Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 rounded to 5.

While I did spend a large amount of this book being VERY annoyed at the miscommunication between Inez and Whit, the mystery plot concerning Cleopatra, Inez's parents and the villainous underground of illegal artefact trading kept me interested enough to persevere. I'm so glad I did, because it really redeemed itself from the initial irritating misunderstandings and focus on the romance plot. There was a lot of danger, action and adventure from 50% onwards, so much double-crossing and a lot of secrets revealed. If you loved The Mummy (1999) and Indiana Jones then you'll 100% enjoy this duology - and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a spin-off with a few side characters too!

WHERE THE LIBRARY HIDES returns us to late 19th century Egypt and the very determined Inez who is on the hunt for her mother.

As the blurb suggests, Inez and Whit's relationship is a major part of this book. It's not a simple cut and dry "we're getting married and are madly in love." Whit makes a few terrible decisions and Inez is forced to ask herself how much she knows about him and whether she's trusted the wrong person. Again. There is a lot of tension between them, which is a lot of fun.

I really liked getting to spend more time with Isadora. There were so many more girls Inez's age around this book (rather than mostly just men a generation older) and so we got to delve into a variety of female relationships. Isadora was the one on page the most so the relationship the book got to explore most. She's a very complex character and she also acted as a source of tension between Whit and Inez.

Whit has longer narration points, almost full chapters of his own, this book. I really liked getting to see more of his thoughts and actions. It made it easier to understand why he betrays Inez (not that I thought it was the right decision for him to make!) and also why he didn't like Isadora (which I did agree with!)

The book ends with a montage-like epilogue, with a little bit of info about "what happens next" for various characters - both the real ones and the fictional. It was a sweet little bonus that gives readers the basic answers they want but leaves it open for more stories (hopefully!)

A lush immersive historical fantasy filled with adventure, magic and a romance like no other. Steeped in historical detail that will bring these ancient times and rituals to life. We travel alongside these characters as they uncover new mysteries, experience character growth and learn more about the world that they live in.

I was captivated by the author’s lyrical writing, the plot twists that took me by surprise and the magical system that was expanded upon in this story. This was a stunning sequel and I will continue to read anything this author publishes.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐫 & 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐨𝐧 (𝐇𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞) 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐈𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥 𝐈𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐳

This second book is far better than the first, and I can't wait for it to be released in a few days. Everyone should read it!!

3.5

Oh man, that’s a tough one.

First off, if you haven’t read “What The River Knows” yet and plan on reading the sequel, make sure you have said sequel ready to go, as “Where the Library Hides” picks up where book one left off.

This one is kinda hard for me as I really, really enjoyed “What The River Knows”. So my expectations were high, to say the least. But this one..uff. Up until like 40% the plot focused very much on Inez and Whit, which is somewhat fine with me, because I like them.
Obviously certain other things happen and are meant to build up for the main plot, but I can’t really say anything of that grabbed my attention up until the last 30% of the book, which happen to be the part of the book where *all* the plot happens.

As I mentioned, I, yet again, enjoyed Inez & Whit and their banter. Same goes for Isadora & Whit and *their* banter.
Compared to book one, Whit got more of his own pov during some of Inez’ chapters, though I think it would have made sense for him to have his own chapters at this point.

There was a rather big plot twist near the end and while I would say it was a good plot twist in terms of plot twists, I don’t think I liked it. I would have wished the author handled it differently.

The epilogue was short & sweet and I loved it.

Was this a bad book? No.
But for me, it kinda underperformed with my main critique being the plot situation. To be quite frank, if properly edited, this duology could have been a great standalone.

That was an amazing sequel, it's just as good as the first book. I couldn't put it down it was really well paced and the ending was so satisfaying

I was honestly so excited to receive this given how much I loved the first book and the author left us on such an insane plot twist. But ended up super disappointed.

Overall, I just felt that the characters had no growth in this one and actually I think they got worse?? Inez is meant to be smart, cunning, able to scheme really or at least that’s what we’re told and to some extent she was in the first book. But here, she somehow became even more naive, waaaay too trusting, dramatic and went head-first into impulsive, stupid situations. Whit stayed the same though and actually getting to see his POV in this book made me believe the romance less.

I also found the writing style in this to be very cringey especially the romance between the two characters and just got worse towards the end. The writing style also felt very very young; I felt like I was reading the book version of a disney show.

The thing that really gripped me with the first book was the adventure, history and Indiana Jones feel of it all, but we don’t have that here. A lot of the book is just conflict between the characters. We barely see any history, learn more about Cleopatra or see them try and find more archeological discoveries. Understandable given where the author took the plot but was just disappointed as that’s what drew me into the first book. The last 25% or so did start to feel like this and that’s what really made me carry on reading (and knowing there was a huge twist at the end and I wanted to know what it was).

Like I said, there’s a huge plot twist at the end (and a few small ones along the way) but honestly, I found the majority to be quite obvious and it confuses me that Inez didn’t see most of them coming.

Also, given what happened to Elvira in the last book and how close Inez and her were, she didn’t seem overly upset apart from in some random moments - it would’ve been the book feel more real if we actually got to see/feel her grief. Elvira just felt like a random, forgotten plot point.

Anyway, overall I was disappointed with this one, especially given how much I loved the first.

This writer can do no wrong for me. A lyrical novel and a great visit to Egypt. There were parts of the story, the history that I didn't know about and the whole setting up of the time and place were really wonderful to experience.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this book early, all thoughts are my own!

I was soooo happy when I got approved for an eARC of this book since the first one ended on a cliffhanger and I absolutely loved it, it is one of the best books I’ve read in the past few years and its sequel did NOT disappoint. We go back to Egypt with our amazing characters, we’re traveling alongside them as they uncover new mysteries, as they go through so much, as they discover themselves and each other. I loved Inez so much more in this book, she was very easy to love and I felt for her so much during this book.
I was so captivated by the story and I just couldn’t find anything I didn’t enjoy about this book. The plot twists really surprised me and just.. wow!

“It’s a weak and unimaginative human being who resorts to violence to get what they want.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

1885, Egypt. Inez Olivera is left reeling from her cousin Elvira’s murder, and her mother’s betrayal, and when Tío Ricardo issues an ultimatum about her inheritance, she’s left with only one option to consider. Marriage to Whitford Hayes. Former British soldier, her uncle’s aide de camp, and one time nemesis, Whit has his own mysterious reasons for staying in Egypt. With her heart on the line, Inez might have to bind her fate to the one person whose secret plans could ruin her.

Inez goes through a lot in this book but she doesn’t let anything hold her back. She’s peppered with betrayal, lies, subterfuge and a whole lot of violence, but she sticks to her guns and focuses on her goals. I wholeheartedly admire Inez’s tenacity and dedication. She’s so devoted to her craft and the belief it should be shared by many, not the few. Her passion oozes from the pages and the way she cares so deeply for so many? You cannot help but love her. She’s had a brilliant arc over the course of these two books with so much growth. Bravo Ibañez for such a strong female lead!
Oh my dear Whit. You scheming bastard. You really tested my buttons here. But I forgive you because what you did in this book? You truly redeemed yourself. His roguish and deceptive ways became more of a background characteristic whilst his attention was held elsewhere. I am all for a morally grey male lead and Whit certainly gives us that. I think his overall journey over the course of these books was a great one, demonstrating plenty of growth whilst remaining true to himself.

After the events of the first book, I was beyond desperate to know what was going to happen. So, when the chance to read the e-ARC came along, I was not going to deny myself the opportunity! The plot had me utterly engrossed from start to finish. Blessedly, it picks up immediately after the ending of the first book and allows us to see everything unfold. There is untold levels of angst and tension and mystery and frustration… I was here for every morsel I was fed. I can be iffy with stories based off of history as they can occasionally feel a little dry but this was not the case here. It is so rich with history and the mystery that accompanies it, which meant I was gobbling down each finding and trying to work things out alongside our characters. Speaking of which, Ibañez has a skill for writing characters that are more complex than meets the eye - which is something I adore! Nothing worse than a character that has no substance to them beyond face value. There are so many layers to each character that we steadily got to delve deeper into as the story progressed. No story is ever good if we don’t get this in characters, in my opinion. The romance was so full of angst for so much of the book but considering the goings on, it wasn’t at all a shock. Yet I loved every bloody moment! We get a tiny bit of spice as well which whilst lacking description (understandable for the age group!) it did not lack in emotion. It had my heart all aflutter and a giddy smile on my face. The ending was absolute perfection that had me feeling all the emotions knowing it was over. This story has been an absolute marvel to read - I hoped it would never end!

Overall, Where the Library Hides is a stunning sequel and conclusion to this magical mystery!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you again to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advanced copy of this book. Review will be live on my blog on release day. Now available on Goodreads

4.5 ⭐️

I really loved What The River Knows the first book in Secrets of The Nile duet so I was even more excited for Where The Library Hides after the epilogue we were left with. While I enjoyed this book I didn’t love this as much as the first book but was very happy with the way it concluded. This was very much about solving a lot of the mysteries from the first book and the romance did take a little bit of backseat in this for the majority of the story.

We do get both Inez and Whit’s POVs in this book and I really think that helped seeing both sides of the story especially as this book deals with a lot of betrayals and twists and turns. Inez certainly goes through it in this book and the last part was certainly filled with a lot of action and twists and turns.

The writing is still one of my favourite things and the way the author describes the world it is so vivid and easy to visualise, I loved the illustrations and I especially loved the epilogue and the way it was done. I will always recommend giving this duo a read as the writing and world building is so beautifully done.

Where the Library Hides starts right where What The River Knows left off and, unlike the first one, there are very few breaks in a brisk pacing of this one. It being a sequel works to the author's strengths, as it allows the entire book to flow without the need for exposition or for length introductions to new characters.

There are some interesting twists as well as one twist that feels as if it pulls away an interesting possibility that would have been fun to read about.

Both main characters remain strong, with us getting more of a look into Whit's head in this book than we did in the first one. This definitely adds to both this novel and the first one.

If you hadn’t guessed it from my previous reviews, I’m an ardent fan of The Mummy and I absolutely adore any book or series that emulates this! Of course, that meant I totally loved What The River Knows by Isabel Ibañez and I absolutely had to get my hands on Where The Library Hides as soon as I possibly could! Huge thanks to Hodder & Stoughton, Hodderscape and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Where The Library Hides picks up immediately following the conclusion of What The River Knows, where we left Inez mourning the death of her beloved cousin and still trying to solve the mysteries of Egypt, Cleopatra and the disappearance or possible murder of her father! The book begins with Whit suddenly proposing to Inez! Inez is totally confounded by this, immersed in confusion as to whether Whit actually has feelings for her or is he scheming again? Remember that kiss?

What can I say? This explosive start to the book brings our protagonists right back into the spotlight, illuminating their conflicting characteristics and bringing forth the banter and spats that I totally adored from the first book in this duology! Whit is still a total charming brute and Inez remains her impetuous, curious self! The way the story is told from both their points of view only added to the charm, as we could see both the sides they displayed to each other and their innermost thoughts. Their romance alone is a reason to read this adventure filled duology, filled with the angst, stubbornness, conflict, and banter that truly brings to life the tumultuous and passionate feelings they have for each other, even if they won’t admit it!

The plot continues to maintain the fast pace set in book one, although there are slightly fewer less adventures as the book proceeds towards its dramatic conclusion but, what it lacks in action, it makes up for in mystery, investigation, dramatic and unexpected plot twists, that I most definitely couldn’t have foreseen, and great character arcs as Inez matures and Whit is more fleshed out as a multi-dimensional character. I loved the character development and growth for both.

The world building itself is solid, with its core foundations in Egypt and its history, Ibañez does take some imaginative turns but, these all have their foundations in history and geography, and are key to the development of the plot.

If you love The Mummy or anything about Egypt, then you won’t go wrong with this solid duology that delivers a rich tapestry of strong characters, great adventure and action, magic and history, alongside a truly angsty but, fun romance.

A huge thank you to the publisher, NetGalley and Isabel Ibañez for this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Firstly, I loved that the book was dedicated to everyone who was absolutely wrecked after the ending of book 1 and that Where the Library Hides picks up right where What the River Knows ended.
While reading, I found myself increasingly disliking Whit (I know! Sorry!). He was showing so many red flags that I was seriously worried about Inez. Every time I thought Inez (and I) couldn’t handle any more heartbreak and betrayal, the book proved me wrong.
However, the pacing was so incredible, especially at around 70%, that I couldn’t stop reading because the plot twists were so intense and insane. I loved the complexity of the characters and that they showed how nothing is just black & white. Whit made up for *no spoiler* and I liked how his and Inez’s relationship evolved despite everything that happened.

That being said, get ready for an incredible adventure and go read this book (and book 1 if you haven’t)!

By the way, I need Arabella to have her own book because this is one of my favourite storyworlds and I’m not ready to leave it!

A lovely conclusion to the secrets of the Nile duology. This story is full of family secrets, betrayals and Indiana Jones style adventure.
What I enjoyed most is the setting, the Egyptian backdrop is simply stunning. And worth a read purely for this!
There’s an ultimatum element to this plot that really worked for me. Inez as a character deals with things rather impulsively and in a human way making me root for her and equally frustrating me. I absolutely loved Whit, although I found I disconnected from the romance as this fell secondary to the family secrets plot lines. There are some great moments but I much preferred the romance in the first instalment.
I would have enjoyed more plot development as this story was purely a continuation of the first book. Saying this there are plenty of action scenes and revelations to keep pace and entertainment up.
Overall this is a great melodramatic historical fantasy with fun magical elements and a hint of romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

Just like everything Isabel Ibañez writes, this book is golden!

This is book 2 of the finished What the River Knows duology, and if you've read book 1 you know we needed this book ASAP

Following Inez's and Whit's adventures in Egypt is a wonderful experience. The way it's written makes you travel to faraway lands and the tension between the main characters and the obstacles they need to overcome will keep you hooked!

I read this book in only 2 days and was constantly surprised by all the plot twists and new additions to the mysteries to be solved - I couldn't recommend this book enough, it's certainly been one of the best reads of the year

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this as an ARC, I don't know if I'd been able to survive longer without knowing what was going to happen next!

Really enjoyed the conclusion to this duology. It ended really well.
I feel like character progression was done well, as was the whole rounded up of the story.
A very satisfying ending.

Where the Library Hides is book 2 in the Secrets of The Nile. Which was obviously an error on m part, so I had to go and read Book 1 before I could pick up book 2. And it gives me a reason to read a book that’s been stuck on my tbr for several months.

So book 2 in comparison to book 1 was much faster paced. There was more happening but with enough detail so you aren't left confused or wondering. The first book lacked quite a bit but book 2 is right up there and I thoroughly enjoyed it in comparison to book 1.

I was completely hooked to this book, especially after the cliffhanger we was left with on book 1. The one thing I can say for absolute certainty was that the research that must of come with writing this book was insane. The small details that just make you see Cairo and the area surrounding it. It was so beautifully done, I have zero faults for the world building in this book.

The pace is absolutely flawless in this book, there were moments where you had time to think about all that was happening and where it would lead, but they were placed perfectly in-between those faster paced moments where you found yourself holding your breath because it was so intense.

There honestly isn't much more I can say to sell this book to you. I loved every second of it and will continue to recommend it. I think reading book 1 is so worth it to the story, but just hold om through the parts that lag, because book 2 more than makes up for it.

I’m on the fence about this. This duology was an enjoyable experience, and Where the Library Hides is a solid conclusion. I enjoyed the magical realism, the Egyptian mythology, and the archeological vibes. It reminded me of the nostalgia of reading 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘒𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴. The writing is super easy to read and the plot is compelling. However, I believe this duology could’ve been a standalone. There were stretches of info-dumping and paragraphs of repeated information that made the book drag. I also found Inez super annoying. Other characters (e.g., Whit) suffered a personality transplant, acting very out of character in my opinion. Overall, this was a quick read but it didn’t quite live up to expectations.

I always find it quite difficult to review the second book in the series. For once, the expectations, though only slightly subdued by the sheer power of my will, are always high, and with that, a great deal of books end up being downright underwhelming. Apart from that, there's always a fine line between raving about the story and spoiling it for all future readers.

This was a masterpiece. Where the Library Hides proved to be the book that is impossible to put down. I was hooked from the very first letter I read and I'm proud to say the uncontrollable obsession lasted until I turned the very last page.

The dynamic between Whit and Inez was everything one dreams of when they're reading a book like that - intense, full of fire and love, and just a little bit of angst.

The story flowed effortlessly and Isabel once again showed just how well she understands both her characters and the storyline.

I could talk about this book for hours, so for now, let me finish with this - not only did Where the Library Hides meet my expectations. It exceeded them.