5 stars, arc review I honestly love this duology it’s the perfect balance of romance, suspense and historical fantasy. I loved the magic elements combined with Egyptian history they worked so well with each other. This book was just a great way to end the duology and probably has one of my favourite epilogues with everything tied up for each character. The artwork was incredible as well it was one of my favourite elements of the first book and I’m so glad they were incorporated in this one as well. If you’re looking for a ya historical fantasy with a romance sub plot this is the duology for you.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advance copy to read.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024 and it did not disappoint. Ibanez writes with such beautiful description and creates the most believable characters that it is pure magic to read.

I adore the setting in Cairo and it's abundantly obvious how much research and knowledge of the area and times has been loving poured into the story.

Our main characters, Inez and Whit, are just a wonderful love story. They are also brilliant characters who are full of wit (No pun intended). I love how defiant Inez in and won't be told no. I also love how defensive Whit is. They are the perfect book romance for me and their story really carries the duo.

I really enjoyed the twists in this book, especially after the cliff hanger from book 1. I did not see any of it coming until just before.

So much action, drama and love.

I fear I can never write eloquently enough just how much I adore this book. But urge everyone to read it and fall in love with it too.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the chance to read this book early in exchange for an honest review!

After reading and loving What the River knows - and after that specific ending that had me reeling - I was so excited to finally get my hands on this arc and I have to say: Isabel ibañez did not disappoint (I literally finished this book in 2 days because I couldn't put it down). I already loved Inez and Whit in the first book but I really think they both got more opportunities to be developed in this one, both separately and as a couple. It made me really happy that we got more moments of these two alone, without the interference of other characters, because I did want them to grow closer in this book (again, Ibañez did not disappoint).

I think the pace in this book was better than in the first one and the story was still interesting. I love how the author sprinkled a little bit of magic all over this book because it did turn it into something special.

I'm sad that this duology is over but I do think this was the perfect conclusion and I'm so excited to read the next books (and you'll definitely know who's coming next by the time you finish this one).

Isabel writing is such a gift! Her words are sharp and thoughtful with the perfect mix of slow burn sparks, adventure and delicious anticipation. My favourite is her dry wit (pun intended) and the ways she weavers her characters with nuance and heart!

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for my e-ERC of Where the Library Hides.

Full review to follow soon but for now all I will say is: Do Recommend ♥️

A spectacular conclusion to the Secrets of the Nile duology. It's always bittersweet to see a beloved series come to an end, but I couldn't have hoped for a better adventure following Inez and Whit.

This review is spoiler free FYI :)

Isabel's worldbuilding was superb, very detailed and I always felt very much part of the story, exploring Egypt alongside Inez as the story developed. This book answered every question I had from What The River Knows and also had me squealing and kicking my feet like a small child.

I devoured Where The Library Hides, I struggled to put this book down - utterly obsessed with Whit (as scheming as he may be) and I enjoyed seeing Inez grow during her time in Egypt.

This book is full of secrets, magic, betrayals and above all a sense of found family. I only wish I could reread it again for the first time. I really hope I can convince at least one reader to pick up this duology because it really is that good, I've never read anything like it.

The pacing is pretty slow for the first half of the book, but once they move from Cairo the plot thickens and we really get a good glimpse into what is coming. It dives straight back in to the cliff-hanger that left me open mouthed, and I wasn't disappointed.

I'm so excited to see what Isabel Ibanez writes next, she is definitely an auto-buy author for me now and I will be collecting every edition I can of this duology (madness but it is worth it!).

What a book!! After the first one (and its ending!!) I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one and it did not disappoint and I love it with all my heart!
I think it’s great we continue with the dual pov and therefore understand both characters quite great and I liked that there were a few new people introduced in this book, because it kept things interesting.
This story is just as packed with mystery and twists as the first one and the art is absolutely stunning! Couldn’t recommend it more.

LOVED IT LOVED IT LOVED IT!!!!

omg what a ride!! Divibg back into Eygpt has been the highlight of my October. It was such a fun read and omg I love Whit EVEN MORE.

Cant wait to get my physical copy!!!

4,5 ⭐️

I was so happy to receive a complimentary advance copy of this book from Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

After the epilogue of What the River Knows I couldn’t wait to find the explanation.

For Whit, the betrayal is justified because he was saving someone else. He is morally and ethically gray and was not sorry for what he did. I understand why he did not apologize and instead did his best to protect Inez and make it up to her.

Inez tries to be brave and look like she is not affected by the lie, but, as Whit describes her, she is “resourceful, reckless, curious”, and also naive so she trusts the wrong people and ends up hurt.
Still, we have to remember that she is basically a teenager looking for a family so of course she wants to see the good in people.

Just like in the first book we have mystery, secrets, betrayals and magic.
There are a lot of twists that keep you engaged and entertained. I also like the writing, the descriptions and the illustrations.
There are so many paragraphs that I highlighted. It was nice to have both POVs and understand the characters better.

In the sequel to What the River Knows we continue with the dual pov of Inéz & Whit and it picks up straight away from the ending of the first book. (That ending!!!) The novel is absolutely packed with betrayals and subterfuge, really leaning into the mystery vibes of the 1st. Motivations are revealed and mysteries solved, everything does get wrapped up, though I struggled with suspension of disbelief for some of them.

The characters are as great as the first, the return of familiar faces and a couple new ones are welcome additions. The contrast between Inez & Whit's personalities continued to be entertaining, however you could really relate to Whit's frustration at times as Inez barreled forwards without thinking things through!

I did love the epilogue, the illustrations of all the characters and a brief summary of their futures. There was also a hint to another series in this world, which I'd definitely pick up.

Overall, I enjoyed this sequel but I did miss the more whimsical and treasure hunting adventures of the 1st. This was definitely a darker entry! Certain events also seemed a little farfetched to me even in a world of magical artifacts and I personally felt the reconciliation after a certain betrayal seemed too fast? However, everything was resolved with no loose ends and I did still enjoy reading this one. I look forward to Ibañez's next book.

Thanks to Netgalley & Hodder & Stoughton for the arc.

Well, Isabel sure knows how to write killer endings.

Inez is faced with an ultimatum: either leave Egypt as her uncle is forcing her to do, or marry Whit. Inez hates feeling not in control. Her mother is on the run with stolen artefacts from Cleopatra’s tomb and might be the only one who knows where Inez’s father is.

Inez continues to delight and frustrate me. She is intelligent, determined, and ambitious. However, she also rushes headlong into situations before really thinking them through. Her impulsivity is what causes a lot of the problems in this duology.

Whit… A boy with wit, secrets, and a grit to get anything done.

I loved the further discussions this book encourages about sexism and the law and its bias against women.
The law means that Inez must have a chaperone, her life must be tied to a male. Her inheritance must controlled be controlled by a man, either a guardian or her husband.

"Your being a girl has nothing to do with anything," Whit said through gritted teeth. "Look at Inez; if she wanted, she could make it to Paris on the back of turtle."

This was extremely predictable. To the point where betrayals were obvious, revelations were apparent chapters before Inez put the pieces together, and the not-romance painfully contrived.

There was one final big plot twist at 90%, but by then I already felt disappointed in the reading experience. However, trust me when I say it is even more shocking than the end of book one! But also, more moustache-twirling villainous that felt over the top.

Overall, this was an easy duology to binge, yet I think this might have been stronger as a longer standalone, or with the introduction of more plot elements to follow in book two.

If you enjoyed this, try the Kane Chronicles or Empire of Shadows.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me the arc in exchange for a review.

4⭐️s

An excellent follow up to the first book! I devoured this SO fast, I just did not want to stop reading. The writing was as exquisite as the first one, with an easy fun plot and whitty dialogue. All of the characters played a vital role in the book and when it came to the plots conclusion, helped to slot everything into place.

We pick up exactly where the last book left off (thank god) and the first 30% is a worldwind of feelings and fun. I absolutely ADORE Whit and Inez’s relationship. The beginning part of the book gave me all the good warm and fuzzy vibes I needed while keeping the mysteriousness of Whits character intact. I loved watching their relationship go through its ups and downs, it made my heart hurt so much when Whit almost ruined everything and Inez felt like she would never be the one whos chosen first.

The plot had so many turns, many which I did not see coming (and some which I did but only thanks to the expert writing). The story was decently paced, a little slow around the 50%-70% mark but nothing too off putting. I loved learning about cleopatra more and visiting Alexandria was incredible. I really do feel like I am in the story with the characters and exploring alongside them, it was beyond great. Some parts seemed a little too “convenient”, characters popping up into the story with a reason etc and some characters were involved when I didn’t think they were vital to the story but it was lovely to see all the characters from book one together.

The emotional storyline that is woven throughout this story is unbelievable. Its so raw and deep, exploring different relationships from spouses to sisters to parents to friendships. Its all in there and tied up in one big warm emotional hug. Watching Inez go from lost and insecure to strong and sure of herself was a pleasure to read. And watching Whit be there with her, through and despite everything, was heartwarming. I loved how we could see from a mile away why he was doing what he was doing, yet Inez took a little longer.

Great finish to a great duology and a series I will miss dearly. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eArc, I loved it!

I had already read the first novel of this series and was really looking forward to the sequel. It was worth the wait, what an amazing book this is! Perhaps the vibes can best be described as Indiana Jones vibes mixed with romance and a touch of magic, it is really different than usual.

The story in short:

Inez is determined to find her mother, who stole many of Cleopatra’s possessions from her grave. However, her uncle wants to send her back to Argentina, and to ensure that she can make the choice to stay, she marries Whit, her father’s assistant. When Whit withdraws all her money and sends it to his sister, it seems clear that she is on her own. They receive a telegram that the grave of Cleopatra has been robbed and her uncle and his partner are accused of this crime and taken prisoner, and so Inez is suddenly alone. She does everything she can to find her mother, to find out what happened to her father, and to ensure that the stolen artifacts and Cleopatra’s mummy are found and her uncle can be released. Her search takes her to Alexandria, where it is said that there is a secret library where her mother is hiding. However, Inez is not the only one who is searching...

The book is super thrilling and Isabel’s writing style is amazing. She has portrayed Inez very well as a somewhat naive, gullible young lady with enormous willpower, stubbornness and perseverance at the same time. You can just picture old Egypt as you read the story and are transported back in time. The drawings in the book are very nice and helpful and make the story extra lively. I did not see the denouement coming at all and I read until 1:30 in the morning yesterday because I had to know how it would end. This novel is highly recommended, thank you @netgalley and @hodderbooks for the ARC!

I loved this book. What the River Knows was such a wonderful read and the sequel did not disappoint. The relationship and dynamics between Inez and Whit really move the story forward. Perfect pacing throughout, filled with twists. The setting is beautiful, really well described and great to read. Isabel Ibanez's storytelling is truly wonderful, capturing all of the emotion of these character with well written depth.

Everything I wanted and more.

Firstly, I adore What The River Knows- it was one of my favourite books from last year- so I was desperate to read Where The Library Hides.

Inez and Whit make the dream team- they banter, they push each other, they exasperate each other- and they make a fearsome pair. The chemistry continues to boil between them and we have a delicious amount of unspoken emotions and yearning.

Once again, I love the setting which is enthused with classical details and provides a perfect backdrop for Inez and Whit’s adventures as they continue their searches for alchemy. Familiar faces reappear and it was great to see ones like Farida having her moment.

Full of twists and turns, this was fast paced but I loved every page…in fact, I may have to read it again very soon.

It's more than just the secrets of the Nile we're dealing with here...

Packed with betrayal, self-doubt, trust issues, and ancient visions to one more hidden trove, WHERE THE LIBRARY HIDES wraps up Inez's story. The cliffhanger that jaw-dropped me? It's swiftly resolved and kicks off this instalment without a hitch but not with pure naivety from our girl, here. I enjoyed the back and forth between Inez and Whit, allowing the romance to brew, drive a wedge between them, and electrify their interactions. Inez having to fight against her instinct to trust what she sees, her desire for things to be simpler and the way they were before, and her sense of justice and morality tugged her all over the place, making the story messy and juicy. It definitely strays away from the Cleopatra hook that strongly sustained the first novel, but it might be for the best to cement why we should care about Inez, her life, and her story.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with the e-ARC/DRC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton, Hodderscape, and Isabel Ibañez for granting me a Netgalley digital arc for Where The Library Hides in exchange for an honest and fair review. This was my most anticipated read for 2024. I've been eagerly waiting for this arc to go up on Netgalley to request, and I have never clicked the request button for any books before!

Where The Library Hides has been worth the wait! Our adventure sweeps away from the temples of Philae to hunt down mysterious in Alexandria about the once great library. The storytelling pacing was a rip-roar rollercoaster ride, and you were never quite sure what was coming next! There's never a dull moment in the adventures and romance of Inez and Whit. The tone of the adventure isn't as action-packed as in book one. The Mummy vibes might be on the back burner – but crank up the vibes of Death on the Nile. We've got some serious sleuthing, mystery, and shocks around every corner packed into the plot!

Isabel Ibañez writes some of my favourite fictional characters – I was so glad to be back in their company in Where The Library Hides. No character doesn't leap off the page with a big personality with quirks, flaws, and egos. Even the secondary character cast is life-like, with a big draw on your heartstrings. I'm so glad we get more into Whit's soul, back-history, and motivations. While ever the charming and mischievous chancer, Whit's got a heart of gold underneath, and his protective drive had me weak at the knees. He's the perfect partner in crime for lovely Inez with her strong, determined/stubborn, and adventurous streak but flawed by being too trusting and soft-hearted at times, landing in some hot water or staring down the barrel of a gun.

The romance between Whit and Inez hit the bulls-eye dead centre. I loved their banter, lovely one-liners, and the heartfelt, swoony declarations. Their romance was a cornerstone of the plot, driving them both to grow and fight for their relationship when everything was trying to tear them apart. I wouldn't say I liked some tropes in Where The Library Hides involving Whit and Inez. It's the only niggle I've got.

An exhilarating ending to the beautiful world of the Secrets of the Nile duology set! I'm sad this series is over, as it's been a whirlwind adventure with all the best vibes and a uniquely magical world crafting the perfect historical fantasy story. It didn't quite pack a punch as its predecessor, but it's held its own in the ring of Secrets of the Nile duology, keeping me hooked from start to finish as a gripping page-turner.

[Rating 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for this review]

The Nile did indeed have many secrets.

I could not put this book down. I read and LOVED the What the River Knows, I absolutely adore Egypt and all its history, I've always had a profound interest in it. But I'll be honest here- I picked up the series because I (may) have seen the B&N exclusive editions artwork and fallen in love with Whit. That still remains true, I love Whit's character- he's got depth.

Where the Library Hides 1000% lived up to the hype of the first book for me- sometimes I find that sequels fall off or I lose interest. That was not the case.

This book is rife with betrayals and misdirections and it hurt my soul in the best way. I laughed, cried and got irrationally angry all in the span of one book.

For anyone who is thinking about picking this series up- I urge you to do so. I found the storyline profoundly unique- Inez is a wonderful heroine (albeit maybe a bit reckless lol). Whit is an enchanting scoundrel and the plot and setting are remarkable.

It's one of those books that is going to live with me awhile.

✨5 stars✨

This was one of my most anticipated reads since loving the first book when I read it all the way back in January!!

What an amazing sequel and conclusion to this series. I loved being back with Inez and Whit while they attempted to solve the mystery of Inez’s parents. I found the setting of Egypt fascinating and the twists in this book continuously had me on the edge of my seat!

I would recommend this book to everyone but especially to people who read and enjoyed the first one because this is an amazing conclusion that manages to tie up all the loose ends leaving the reader incredibly satisfied.

I cannot wait to get a finished copy when it comes out in November!

I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Amazing! Probably the only sequel that I have read that does the first book justice. I had my eyes on this series for a while but only picked up the first book a couple of weeks ago. I completely fell in love. Both with strong willed Inez and charming Whit. When I read the reviews and saw people were saying it was like Brendan Fraser’s The Mummy, I knew I had to read it.

I genuinely adored this series. It was quick paced, filled with adventure and steamy romance. All the characters were so well formed and the twists were so unexpected!

I wished that this series was more than just a duopoly. I need more!

What can't I say about this book It was utterly AMAZING!!! The moment I saw this on NetGalley I knew to automatically read this as I was obsessed with the story in What the river knows and to be able to read the second part before the book drops was a dream.

The story picked right back up where we left the main characters and let's just say we dive straight back into the mystery and drama of the story. I love the new characters we meet as well as some old ones. There was a lot of twist in turns in this sequel that really shocked the system but nonetheless it was fantastic. I will definitely be giving this book 4.75 stars.

Massive thank you to NetGalley and Hodder Books for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC before release.