What the River Knows

A brilliant read with excellent description and I loved the character of Inez, which was especially well drawn. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the novel.

I can’t, I just can’t deal. I need to process after that jaw dropping ending. I never really got the whole ‘screaming, crying, throwing up’ thing until I read this book. Pure perfection.

What the River Knows is a stunning historical fantasy with a seductive slow burn romance that is sure to enrapture from the first page. With secrets and betrayal around every corner, even when you think you know the truth, one tiny detail will shake you to the core.

I ADORED this book. The detail was exquisite; the depth and layers of the plot unparalleled. The atmosphere and emotion were conveyed exceptionally, I felt as though I were wandering through those temples with Inez. The descriptive imagery was so strong I could visualise the entire setting in my mind so vividly. The pacing was slow but it felt like sinking into a hot bath, so comforting and not at all boring. And the romance! The snarking and the lingering glances, whew!

Isabel is my favourite author and I was so excited to read this book before publication. WTRK is by far one of my favourite books I have ever read and I cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel. Thank you so much Isabel for writing this incredible story and to hodderscape for approving my request.

The tagline of mummy meets death on the Nile sounded absolutely ideal to me!!!
With this book I felt fully immersed in the history and despite the fact that it’s more YA than I’d usually read I loved it! Also I’m a sucker for any mention of ancient Egypt and archeology!
I’s a long read but so worth it!

I was going to give this book four stars BUT THAT ENDING. I NEED ANSWERS AND I NEED THEM NOW 😭😭

Okay, but on a serious note, this book is just so good.
It has great world-building, a wonderful and headstrong female character and a morally grey character.

Can I also just mention the antagonising slow burn that had me on the edge of my seat every time the two characters talked or looked at each other?? 😩

Also, let's not talk about the multitudes of plot twists that had me questioning every damn character except the one I should have been looking at 👀... *I'm still in shock*

I am pretty sure this book is this close 🤏🏼 in putting me in a reading slump (in a good way of course 😂)

Omg!!! Actually adored this book, I’ve already read it more than once, and will definitely be recommending it to my friends, seriously worth the read.

I love this author’s work so much. This book was everything!! Literally, everything about it was purely magical; and it was fascinating enough to have me finish in one single read! Definitely a full 5 stars read for me

Excuse me, but archeology? Cleopatra? Speculative touches? This book is made for me!

It's ambitious and daunting to attempt conceptualising what the tomb of Cleopatra and Marc Anthony must be like. The former has grown to have a legendary status in ancient Egyptian history, for her brilliance, political maneuvering and the tragedy of her life. Similarly, Ibañez has refrained from giving physical descriptions of the famous last pharaoh, instead relying on imagery through smells and the like to visualise Cleopatra. This is smart considering her appearance has been debated by historians for ages, wondering what the Greek queen from a ruling Greek family residing in Egypt for centuries would've looked like. It also draws more attention to her personality and life rather than her appearance, allowing one as the reader to think more about her as a person. Better yet, to draw connections between her and Inez.

Speaking of, I enjoyed Inez's arc in the novel; her bright, brave but naive spirit being tested and weathered by grief, betrayal, and maturity. I like that the novel roots itself in her family relations, keeping the story from feeling too epic and emotionally distant and making it personal throughout the various events and twists that occur. While I had hunches of the bigger twists of the story since the beginning (not a bad thing!), the tiny ones are always the ones that catch me off guard! And the teases between Inez and Whit! Deliciously addicting, that's all I shall say.

It's great that Ibañez touched on the ethics of tomb raiding as the cast, to varying degrees, are involved in the complicated trade of salvaging items for preservation or auctioning them off for money. With classic archeology action-adventure flicks like Indiana Jones and the Mummy (starring Brendan Fraser), it can be easy to get swept up in chasing after the mystery and spellbound by the anticipation to touch history. Yet, it's not a glittering, clean process. So I appreciate the nod to the real-life morality/cultural issues in archaeology.

Oh, and that ending is illegal. I need a sequel for this. I'd beg for it as Inez had with her parents to visit Egypt.

Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with an e-ARC/DRC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a wonderful story of 1990's Egypt, which is full of magic, and one young woman's adventure to find out who killed her parents and to discover who Cleopatra is. It is full of wonder and history, a young woman's journey into full adulthood as she has to unravel the mystery and decide which side she has to fight on. It is beautifully written, descriptive and clever, the kind of book that once you start you can never put down.

The Mummy meets Death on the Nile in this lush, immersive historical fantasy set in 19th century Egypt, filled with adventure, a rivals-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race.

Need I say more? It was gripping, immersive in the atmospheric setting. And the romance was slow but realistic. Brilliant.

This was an absolutely incredible YA Fantasy! It was beautifully written, well-researched, and had such dynamic characters. It was a tad predictable at times, but I didn’t see a few things towards the very end and it was just all so good. This is definitely the author’s best work so far. If you love Egyptology or The Mummy (1999), then this is for you!

A beautiful lyrical story that will captivate you from the very first sentence!

Historical fantasy is such a superb genre that one needs to be careful about writing in, but this book did the genre JUSTICE.

A PERFECT ya novel, with some very solid characters and some VERY good world building. The vivid descriptions of the world will immediately transfer the reader into the story.

All in all, I 100% recommend

Enormous thanks go to Netgalley and Hodderscape for sending me an advance copy for review and thereby completely dominating most of my thoughts for the last forty eight hours or so.
If you were, are, or ever have been obsessed with the 1999 movie The Mummy, starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, then you need to read this book. It's a love story to all of our wild childhood imaginings of Egypt, but it's also a timely, and sensitive reminder of the reality of colonialism and the stolen histories and artefacts, many of which are still scattered to the winds of international museums and private collections.
As a book (independent of my childhood nostalgia), it still works well. The pacing is fast and the action keeps the tension high. There's a lot of twists and turns - some expected, and some devastating.
Inez, as a heroine, can do no wrong. I loved her and her determination, her dry sense of humour and (less fortunately) her occasional short-sightedness. I was slightly less sold on Whit as a love interest, though he grew on me and by the end I was seriously invested. Their relationship and banter reminded me a great deal of Kerri Maniscalco's Stalking Jack the Ripper series, and I mean that in the best possible way.

A good illustrated front cover to entice the reader.
Interesting, descriptive words, and lots of words which are not often found in childrens books, so it's a great example of introducing new vocabulary.
The story was written well and descriptive enough to encourage the reader to read more.
Although young adult themed, I personally think it is a shame to include the occasional swear words. The story could be used in school lessons to introduce new vocabulary to them and show the depth of the character, amongst other features. So, due to this, I think it limits the potential of a wider audience, especially as the story was so good!

Nevertheless, what a delight, subtle budding romance, funny escapades, a main character with strong intentions and stubborn qualities, twists, and turns. Some elements were predictable, but this made the story endearing. I liked how the story ended with the possibility of a future book. I can honestly say I would be invested to read the next part of the story to find out Whits story.
In conclusion, this lovely story is recommended by me purely for its entertainment and ease of reading.

This book is going down as one of my all time favourites!

What The River Knows by Isabel Ibañez is a highly addictive historical fantasy for people who love treasure hunts and mysteries. Our heroine, Inez, is a forward thinking and resilient character, who's curiosity and bravery really leads the story.

Looking for closure after the news of her parents demise, Inez travels to Egypt and gets caught up in the hunt for Cleopatra's tomb. Her constant rebellion is highly entertaining, especially when it inconveniences Whit, the swoon worthy love interest.

I absolutely loved the archeology and found it completely fascinating. I really admired the respect that Inez had towards the tomb and ancient relics. Although the magic is only a subtle aspect of the story, I found it to be very unique and interesting and I found Inez's connection to the magical objects to be fascinating.

The many illustrations throughout the book are gorgeous and where a lovely addition!

I was under the impression that this book was a standalone but as it turns out, it's book one of a duology. The cliffhanger is absolutely brutal and I'm so desperate to find out what happens. Waiting for the sequel is going to be absolute torture!

Overall, What The River Knows is a fun and fast paced book! I highly recommend that you do yourself a favour and pre-order a copy because you are not going to want to miss out!

Thank you so much to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC!

There is a unique kind of grief that a reader feels when they fall in love with a book, its characters and its location, and there isn't a sequel already available.

Reading this book was a pure joy. It was a fun, fast-paced adventure through Egypt and I couldn't put it down. The world-building was fantastic and set up a stunning world with old magic in an 19th century context where the reader felt immediately at home.

I was instantly sucked into the world and I desperately need a sequel where we can join Inez and Whit on another adventure.

I got a chance to read What the River Knows by @isabelwriter09 and GUYS I don't think anyone understands how OBSESSED with this book I am.

What the River Knows is the mesmerising tale of Inez Olivera, who, after her parents mysterious deaths, inherits a vast fortune and a guardian with a hidden agenda. We follow Inez on a captivating journey as she travels through Egypt trying to figure out the her parents secrets, all whilst trying to keep herself from getting swept away by it all. With a secretive Uncle, and his handsomely brutish assistant trying to stop her at every turn, Inez can only depend on herself to uncover the secrets, and what they have to do with Cleopatra...

This book was beautiful. The writing inspired such gorgeous vivid imagery that I felt like I was in 19th century Egypt. The book was described as 'The Mummy meets Death on the Nile' which is SO ACCURATE. Inez as a main character was perfect and I was ready to die for her in the first chapter. And the CHEMISTRY between her and Mr Whitford Hayes is so ooh la la. There are parts of this book that feel like a warm hug and it's all down to Ibanez's writing. There's a beautiful magic system which is easy to understand and doesn't need much explanation which I love. It's dual POV though most of the chapters are from Inez, but those glimpses into Whit's POV always come just at the right time. Obviously, I cannot say any spoilers so I will just say that THE THING THAT HAPPENED, I KNEW IT WAS GONNA HAPPEN AND I HATE THAT I WAS RIGHT.

This book was a magical historical fantasy that had one of the best slow burn romance! It was like literal gold oozing out of the pages. It's incredibly charming, there's aspects of betrayal, forced proximity, a shocking ending, and a thrilling tale full of secrets and plot twists that almost had my hair fall out! If any of that sounds good to you, add it to your TBR! If it doesn't... do it anyway! I will be buying this when it comes out and cannot wait for the sequel to be released!

4.5/5 ⭐️’s

What the River Knows will be released 14/11/23

Thank you to @netgalley and @hodderscape for giving me the chance to read this eARC in return for a fair and honest review 🤍

this was SO FUN. i was worried it would come across as a bit young but the tone was perfect. i'll never be immune to adventures with a bit of romance. next book better come soon!

I really enjoyed this book - set in Egypt it just draws you in. Inez loses her parents at the start of the novel, and it takes you on a journey with her as she tries to muddle out what happened to them against the backdrop of Cairo and excavation of Egyptian artifacts and the British colonial rule of Egypt in the lat 1800s.

The actual story had some interesting familial relationships and the classic rivals to lovers story that draws you in as well as a strong female MC who was headstrong and made some interesting decisions! There was an element of magic in the story which was intruiging, but I felt it played a minor role in the book to be honest and was almost not needed as much.

That being said, I read it in the space of 24 hours!

Thank you to the author Isabel Ibanez, the publisher Hodder & Stoughton and to Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for this honest review.

Firstly, let me just say that I need the next book and I need it yesterday!

This book is so rich in detail about it's characters and it's places, that it's easy to fall straight into the story as if you are actually there in Egypt with them. The different mysteries and twists and turns within the story are really well thought out and the characters all feel true to the timeline and have believable relationships between them.

The way I stayed up late and rushed to finish the book, just to find myself dangling over that cliffhanger ending is truly unforgivable. I ended up going back over the last few pages just to see if I could figure out what was going to happen but alas I will be counting down the days to the next one instead. A truly powerful first book and I enjoyed it all immensely.

I will definitely be looking at more works by this author whilst I wait not very patiently for the next book to this one. I will also be buying a physical copy when it is published 14th November 2023 as I will absolutely be reading it again and I will of course, also be recommending it. Whether you are interested in archeology, Egypt, treasures, romance or mystery, this book is a definite winner and should be read by all.

Full review on my Goodreads at: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5618063799

I just love Ibañez’s writing and stories- I devoured Together We Burn, so I was so excited to see the premise of her new book.

Isabel continues to build such incredible worlds and such amazing characters- I was truly swept into this world and I couldn’t put the book down!

I can’t wait to see what’s next!!

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

This was so much FUN! As someone completely obsessed with The Mummy (1999), and a lover of Death On The Nile as well as a former "I am very into Ancient Egypt and it is my whole personality now" child, the description of this book immediately sucked me in.

Right away I loved FMC Inez, who was a little feisty, a little headstrong, a little reckless and very hasty to throw herself into harm's way - much to the chagrin of long-suffering MMC Whit, with his constant eye rolling and sighs of disbelief.

This book is, for all intents and purposes, an adventure story - there's a lot of cool history, lots of vivid detail, gorgeous descriptions of places and artifacts, but most of all it's just very fun and gallops along with plenty of old-fashioned adventure. Its been so long since I read a book this exciting, exciting in the same way movies like The Mummy and Indiana Jones were.

Hugely recommended to anyone who fancies their YA with a little more gun-slinging, treasure-hunting, mystery-solving and rollicking action.

I was utterly charmed by this story! While probably aimed at the lower end of the YA range, I feel this is a book for any age. Inez was a very enjoyable character to read about : feisty, independent, resourceful. The author brings nineteenth century Egypt to life. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

After reading Together We Burn, I was hooked on this author. But after reading this book, I know I will be picking up EVERYTHING written in the future. The world building, the characters, everything about this story makes my heart sing. I can’t wait to share with all of my friends.

4.5/5
I am still reeling over the ending like... WHAT WAS THAT? HELLO??? As someone who's known to be impatient, I am suffering. What do you mean I have to wait at least a whole year for the sequel? I can't wait that long? This book has so many twist and turn I have a whiplash. Poor Inez couldn't catch a break, everyone hides something from her. I started this book right after getting the e-arc approval and the first two chapters sucked me in and trust me, if I didn't have my 8 to 5 I would've finished reading this book in two days.

Thank you Hodderscape for providing me with an uncorrected arc.

It will come as no surprise to anyone that I love a historical setting with magic, but make it inspired by ‘The Mummy’, light academia, rivals to lovers, and where everyone has secrets and agendas, I’m instantly in.

I was a little nervous going into this when I saw it advertised as for fans of ‘The Mummy’ with how much I absolutely love the 1999 cult classic, but I had no reason to worry.

Inez is headstrong and loyal, and Whit is evasive and flirtatious. I can see the inspiration from Evie and Rick- albeit younger versions of themselves-while they remain distinctly their own characters in their own right. Their antics were hilarious, ‘the touch her and you die’ and reference to locking Evie in her room were greatly appreciated too ;)

This has such an intriguing magic system where the art of magic is lost but remain in objects of the past, making their archeology and the discussions on colonialism even more fascinating.

The mystery was a fun element running throughout the book, and while I guessed the twist I didn’t mind one bit. That is until the ending twist, that I didn’t see coming for the life of me, which made me want to read it again immediately. Seriously, I need the second book to put me out of my misery!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for a review.

I was so intrigued by the comparison that this book is the 90s cult classic The Mummy and Agatha Christie's Death On The Nile: I don't think comparing it to The Mummy will do it any favours as it didn't quite meet those expectations for me, however, I bloody loved this book!

I read it on one day as I was so invested in Inez's story as well as the slow burn will-they-won't-they romance. The plot took twists I didn't see coming, which is something I rarely find in books so I was left with my jaw on the floor for the entire third act of the book. I won't spoil anything, but I will say I need book 2 immediately after that cliffhanger!

PERFECTION!!! Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton, Hodderscape for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

BRILLIANT!! SENSATIONAL!! PHENOMENAL!! What an incredibly unique and beautifully written historical fantasy that has your forbidden/slow burn romance and is filled with magic, mystery, adventure, Egyptian mythology, magical objects, secrets, lies, love, betrayal, friendships, family, tension, banter, chemistry, forced proximity and unexpected twists and turns! Basically, this story has it ALL! I was hooked from the very beginning and could not put it down! It surpassed all my expectations! I absolutely LOVED this book so much!! Hands down one of my top five reads for 2023!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Inez Olivera lives in Argentina with her aunt and two cousins while her parents are in Egypt working as archeologist for six months out of the year. After hearing news about the mysterious death of her parents, Inez escapes and travels by herself to Egypt in hopes of receiving some answers and closure regrading her parents demise. When the ship docks, Inez is disappointed to learn that her uncle is not there to meet her. Instead he has sent the handsome and infuriating Whitford Hayes to send her back home immediately without any answers. Luckily, Inez is able to sneak away from him! She disguises herself as part of the crew and boards the "Elephantine" that is headed for Philae on an archeological adventure. Will Inez find the truth to her parents death? Who can she trust? Or has she possibly got herself caught up in more than she realizes?

Inez is a strong, independent, curious and determined FMC that I just loved! The fact that she would stop at nothing to get answers about her parents made me cheer for her even more. Whit is a smart, intelligent and morally grey character but also a gentleman who would protect Inez at all cost. Swooning🥰🥰!! The banter and chemistry between them was chef's kiss!! 👩‍🍳💋

NOW can we please talk about THAT ENDING!!! What in the world?? Talk about a HUGE cliffhanger and INSANE epilogue!! I seriously need therapy after that!! Saying that I can't wait for the sequel to come out is an understatement!! 😭😭

I enjoyed all the descriptions of Cairo markets, Nile River, temples and ancient artifacts. Overall, I was completely immersed from start to finish! I highly recommend this book and it deserves a gazillion stars!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What an absolutely delightful read. Anyone who likes Indian Jones, The Mummy will enjoy this book so much, I sure did. The magic isn't too heavy in this one but it's charming regardless.

I loved the constant secrecy, that Inez was kept in the dark for so long about so many things. It caused quite the problem and whilst it was frustrating, I understood and in a way liked it.

Inez... I love her so much. She's smart, quite capable, witty and much more independent than her upbringing would suggest. Her naivety is absolutely not jarring as it could be, all along I just felt sympathetic for her, especially when it came to her parents.

Whit... I'm smitten for this man. He's charming in that smirking, arrogant way that I'm 100% vulnerable to and oh, his broken heart and traumas just makes me love him even more.

And that ending... Oh, that ending makes me want to beg for book 2.

This was such an amazing book! Isabel has a way of telling a story that will grip you from beginning to end. Inez is a very strong female character, and I loved how fierce she was throughout the book! She just kept surprising me. And Whit... Let's just say he is very intriguing, and I'm curious about him in the second book. The setting was simply amazing, and I almost felt as if I was in Egypt myself. I can highly recommend this!

this book oml - literally such an incredible book, so beautifully written and the story was enthralling it drew me in from the very beginning.
we follow Inez as she receives a devastating letter from her uncle; her parents have disappeared in the desert, presumed dead and he had become the sole executor of their estate and fortune. Inez decided to travel to Egypt alone, determined to unravel the mystery of her parents vanishing; but will she instead stumble into a intricate web of lies much larger than she could ever imagine?

I utterly adored this book, it was so The Mummy coded and Inez was a truly wonderful character to follow on her journey. I finished this book out to dinner with my family and it genuinely took everything in me to not burst into tears at the table at the ending 😭 and the plot twist in the epilogue! literally jaw dropping - the fact I've got to wait not only for this book to be published and then wait for the sequel after than is heartbreaking 💔💔
I'd give this 6 stars if I could! 🥰

Absolutely amazing! If this isn't all over BookTok, I'm giving up on the community...

What the River Knows is a spellbinding historical fantasy with intricate plot, vivid imagery, and slow-burning romance. From the very first page, you're drawn into a world filled with secrets and betrayals, where every corner holds unexpected revelations. I enjoyed every character, was surprised by several plot twists and was rooting for the romance, and that ending at the end - OMG! I need to have the next book right now!!

Honestly, one of the best books I've read this year and I really hope it gets the love it deserves.

If you love the 1999 film The Mummy, then I think you'll love this book. It has the romantic dynamic of Rick and Evy, the beautiful Egyptian setting and exploration of Ancient Egypt, and an action-packed plot. In What the River Knows, the reader is introduced to nineteen-year-old Inez as she receives news of her parents' deaths during an archaeological dig in Egypt. Despite the societal expectations on women in 1884, Inez escapes Argentina to find answers in Egypt.

In Cairo, she meets British Whitford Hayes, personal assistant to her uncle and guardian. A battle of wills immediately begins between them and never really ends. Their chemistry and banter were fantastic and full of sparks. Their relationship was nicely developed and I'm rooting for their happiness. Alongside this romance, Inez discovers clues that make her question what really happened to her parents and who she can trust.

Inez was an incredible heroine. She's reckless, resourceful, passionate and loyal. Chafing against gender stereotypes and the need to maintain a spotless reputation to secure a husband, Inez is very relatable and easy to cheer for. As a talented artist, seeing some of her drawings in the book was fun as it enhanced the reading experience.

The book also features magic-imbued objects, illegal trade in stolen artefacts, colonialism, PTSD, an archaeological dig, Cleopatra, murder, spies, crocodiles and more! I honestly can't recommend it enough as it's pure fun. The epilogue did have me scream-texting my best friend though 😂.

Having stumbled upon the authors Instagram asthetics reel for What the River Knows I immediately requested to read this book. It did not disappoint!

We follow Inez on a trip from Argentina, with the hopes of discovering what has happened to her archaeologist parents after they are presumed dead in Egypt. This story has everything I wanted, magic, romance, Cleopatra, and a perfectly described world.

This was such a brilliant, fun read, and I've always wanted a book that gives me the same feels as The Mummy (the Brendan Fraser version) does. I can't wait to read the sequel. My favourite read this year!

WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS
I was wholly sucked in to this incredible story and could hardly put it down. It follows Inez, a young woman who travels to Egypt to learn the truth of what happened to her parents. The story that unfolds from there takes you on a wild journey through 18oos Egypt.
The historical gave the book such grounding and I found myself fully intrigued by this aspect alone. There is also a more magical fantasy element which really plays on the lore of ancient Egypt.
The enemies to lovers, slow burn relationship is addictively
good.
Five stars,
but also a big 'F you' because I thought it was a stand-alone and the cliffhanger at the end was CRUEL
(Posted on my Instagram account, @amywritesxo, with follow up post planned when book is published!)

" Because I want one memory with you dancing. One thing that's mine before we part ways..."


This book was absolute perfection and made for me. Ancient Egyptian Mythology, historical fiction with mystery, some magic and romance. It had me hooked and intrigued with the story from the very beginning. It was written so beautifully with immersive world building. It was such a lush story and I was such a fan of The Mummy vibes.

The female main character Inez and the male main character Whit have such fun banter and their chemistry was fantastic. I'm very much a fan of a slow burn romance and this one had a lot of swoon. I NEED more!

I had so much respect for Inez for wanting to break out of the mould women were expected to be and she had a lot of grit and determination. I felt her pain and sorrow regarding her parents and I could understand her thoughts and motivations even when her decisions seemed rash. There were times when it felt like she had no one in her corner so I appreciated it when Whit stood up for her (plus her cousin Elvira) I also appreciate that she is an artist and sees things with a creative eye.

" My fingers itched to capture every detail, every line and curve made thousands of years ago by intrepid artists."

Whit is an intriguing character who comes across as cocky and broody, we slowly learn about as the book progresses but I feel that there is still so much we don't know about him. He definitely has more secrets that need to be uncovered and it can be hard to know what his motivations are.

That ending was a brutal cliffhanger and it will be very difficult to wait for the next book and when it does I will be reading it as soon as I can.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC!

I am shocked. There is no other way to put it. What the River Knows has left me shaken, and achingly desperate for the next book, because there has to be a next book with the way this one ended.

This book is steeped in Egyptian culture and history, it’s exciting and unexpected and I am hooked. Seventeen-year-old Inez Olivera has just received a letter from her uncle in Cairo telling her that her parents are presumed dead. It was not the message she was hoping for as she’d written to her parents imploring them to let her finally join them on their yearly travels to Egypt. Distraught and feeling rejected and alone, Inez runs away from Buenos Aires to find out all she can about her parent's death.

When she arrives, speculation is everywhere, she’s turned away by her uncle, telling her to return home, yet wily Inez manages to find her way from Alexandria to Cairo and sneak onto her uncle’s dehabeeyah bound for Philae, where he and his team will be excavating, it’s only the last place her parents were seen. With no one to trust and lies facing her at every turn, Inez is left confused and desperate, clinging to the unlikely friendship she formed with Whitford Hayes, a man with more secrets than she knows what to do with.

What The River Knows is a fascinating and riveting tale. I was addicted from the beginning by Inez’s fiery personality and her desperate pursuit of truth and freedom. The magic added into the pages of this tale are fresh and interesting, adding a delightful yet complimentary element to the Egyptian location and early time period. This book is just wonderful. There are plots I didn’t expect, twists that shocked me and sweet moments in a swoony romance that was slowly building through the pages. I’m annoyed that I picked up an arc for this book because who knows how long I’m going to have to wait before I can read what happened next, and I need to know!

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez

A young women belongs to the glittering upper society, and like the rest of the world, where she resides is steeped in old world magics that’s mostly been forgotten. She wants for nothing, except to be by her parents side, the one things she yearns for the most. When tragedy strikes and she receives words of their death, she inherits a fortune and a mysterious guardian. Yearning for answers, she sails to the last place her parents were with an ancient ring that her father left in her care.

Upon her arrival, the old world magic tethered to the ring, and to her, pulls her down a path where she soon discovers there is more to her parents alleged death than meets the eye. If it weren’t for her new guardians infuriatingly handsome assistant thwarting her at every turn, she would already have all the answers, and now must rely on ancient magic to uncover the truth. Or she risks becoming a pawn in the game that could kill her.

What the River knows by Isabel Ibanez is an immersive historical fantasy set in ninetieth century Egypt, filled with adventure, a blooming romance between rivals and a dangerous race that could be the difference between life and death. A thrilling adventures spills across the page with gilded aspects of mystery, intrigue and a betrayal you’ll never see coming!

Thank you to Hodder Books for an advanced reader copy via NetGalley of What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez

"What the River Knows" by Isabel Ibañez is nothing short of a literary treasure. It boasts meticulous world-building, a resilient female protagonist, and a morally complex character that adds depth to the narrative.

The palpable tension between the two main characters is worth highlighting. Each interaction, every exchanged word or meaningful glance, keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The slow-burning chemistry between them is expertly crafted, creating an enthralling dynamic that adds layers of intrigue to the story.

The plot twists, however, are where this novel truly shines. They are numerous, cunning, and intricately woven into the narrative, leaving readers constantly reevaluating their assumptions. The author's skillful storytelling leads us down unexpected paths, and the surprises are as thought-provoking as they are shocking.

It's safe to say that "What the River Knows" is a book that will linger in your thoughts long after you've turned the last page. It's the kind of story that can immerse you so completely that you may find yourself hesitant to pick up another book afterward, not because of a reading slump, but because you're still processing the rich tapestry of this engrossing tale.

"[...] fragile things could survive".

I must confess that at the very beginning, I was a bit reluctant about "What The River Knows"; while Isabel's writing was a work of art from moment one, I felt like it would be a slow-paced story and, maybe, not as promising as I initially believed.

God, I was wrong.

This book tells the story of Inez, a Latin American girl trying to uncover the mystery behind her parents' sudden disappearance and presumed death in Egypt. So, she does what absolutely any protagonist would do — she goes to Egypt to find out what happened. Very clever.

What captivated me the most about this book is the fact that Inez is South American — and so am I! Even being from Brazil, the representativity in the book was amazing, and I ended up craving for a trip to both Egypt and Buenos Aires.

Inez is not a boring character in the slightest, even if her complaints and thoughts are a bit repetitive, that's the best part of the book — seeing how sure she is about her path, even if she lives in a decade when women should be anything but that.

But I do have to admit that the best part was the painstakingly slow-burn romance. To watch Whit and Inez's love blooming and being brought into a 100% forbidden love while on a mission, and while seeing their struggle with their morals was the best part. And the fact that it was a friends to lovers only made it better!

I can't think of one bad thing to say about this book, and I'll effectively fight anyone who tries. Can't wait to have it on my shelf!

Isabel is a highly underrated artist and this book deserves all the prizes there are to give. Egyptian myths? The lies? The love? The main character is a strong AF bad girl who deserves all the praises. The story is well written, the plot very thought through, and overall very well done. I’m highly recommending this to my customers!

4.5 ️⭐️

"What the River Knows" is a historical fantasy, first chapter of a duology written by Isabel Ibañez and currently in progress.

The story follows Inez Olivera, a young woman belonging to the glittering high society of nineteenth century Buenos Aires. A city that, like the rest of the world, is steeped in old world magic that's been largely left behind or forgotten. Inez has everything a girl could want, except for the one thing she yearns for most: her globetrotting parents, who punctually leave her behind, back home, when they venture off on their exploring adventures. When she receives word of their tragic deaths, Inez inherits their massive fortune and a mysterious guardian, an archaeologist uncle who collaborates with his Egyptian brother-in-law. Devastated and yearning for answers, Inez sails to Cairo, bringing her sketch pads and an ancient gold ring her father sent 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 that there's much more to her parents' disappearance than what her guardian leads her to believe. With her uncle's annoyingly handsome assistant thwarting her at every turn, Inez must rely on ancient magic to uncover the truth about her parents' disappearance or risk becoming a pawn in a larger game that will kill her.

Wow, what a wonderful read! I had very high expectations of this title, and I was not disappointed. On the contrary, it even managed to exceed my predictions, leaving me happily surprised! Compelling, intriguing and enchanting, it is a book that won me over from the beginning. An adventurous, mysterious and magical story, rich in Egyptian history and mythology, coupled with a highly sizzling and swoon-worthy sloooow burn romance! What can I say? I loved it deeply and now I need the sequel!

I loved the writing so much! Evocative, lyrical and spellbinding, it captured me completely. I was fascinated by the vivid descriptions, the sophistication of the text and the brilliant dialogues. In my opinion, the author manages to render various environments, different aspects of a place or a person so well that I was able to imagine everything easily. I loved the mysterious and adventurous nuances of the tale, as well as the evocative magical touches and the historical and mythological tints full of dedication. It is prose overflowing with passion, feeling, extremely elegant and enchanting. Seriously, I was bewitched by its magic! Moreover, the fast pace coupled with short chapters make it an easy read to follow and devour.

I was so passionate about the plot! Dynamic, effervescent and sizzling, it made it impossible for me to tear myself away from the pages. Adventure, magic, mysteries, intrigue and history are combined to create a wonderful mixture, to which is added a swoon-worthy romance and super interesting mythological references. Between fighting, sailing down the Nile, archaeological excavations, magical objects, deceptions, subterfuge, secrets and lies, there is no shortage of events! I particularly enjoyed the author's focus on the history of Egypt and Egyptian mythology. From the text and the lush descriptions, I really sensed a love and care for the subject. And this is something that involved me quite a bit. In addition, I liked the efficient way in which the historical period was portrayed. The events in fact take place in Egypt, in the late 19th century, in a rather peculiar climate. The way Egyptians were treated, considered inferior and deprived of many rights, clearly transpires from the lines. Even more specifically, the book deals with the profanation and looting of temples, monuments and tombs that occurred frequently during that period, with priceless artifacts sold to foreigners and never found again. At the level of the magic system, the story remains rather mysterious. As mentioned above, the world is steeped in old world magic, largely abandoned or forgotten, which has left its "residue" on certain objects, infusing them with power and thus making them magical. These are mostly small magics, more or less useful in everyday use, destined to wear out with prolonged use and passage between people. It is an idea that I consider definitely interesting, although at the moment the magic aspect remains rather marginal and nebulous. Which is okay, also because I think it will be deepened in the sequel. Going back to the overall plot, this one proceeds loaded with numerous plot twists! I admit that I spotted several, while others didn't, and I found myself screaming with surprise! Some things really threw me off! Seriously, help! The final cliffhanger then is something highly illegal and yes, I urgently need the sequel!

I loved Inez Olivera, protagonist with her first person pov! Inez is a nineteen year old girl of Buenos Aires, belonging to the high society of the nineteenth century. A rich girl who has everything a girl could want except what she yearns for most: her globetrotting parents, often absent for half the year because they are busy in Egypt. Trips from which she has always been excluded, to her great sadness and irritation. Until Inez receives a letter informing of their tragic deaths, turning her world upside down and prompting her to leave for Egypt to hunt for the truth. Inez is a determined, courageous and tenacious girl with a curious and intelligent mind. Independent, self-reliant, she ill-fits the rules imposed by the society of the time. Skilled drawer, passionate about history and languages, she has a particular predilection for Egypt and Egyptian mythology, thanks to the influence of her parents. She is a resourceful and ironic girl, at times quite naive and gullible, inclined to see the good in people. Inez is devastated by the death of her parents, suffering deeply, although she tries not to show it in public. She is a character I loved very much, whom I have become very fond of.

Whit, in turn, is a character with his own first person pov. He has fewer chapters than Inez, but I love him madly! Seriously, even before he appeared, I already knew I would like him. So, on trust! And he didn't disappoint me! I screamed and giggled and swooned hard! Whit is a charming, mysterious, proud and flirty guy, full of contrasts and inner torments. A morally gray character, assistant to Inez's uncle, for whom I am so smitten! I am not kidding, my hormones probably danced excitedly to every scene of his, without even needing to speak!

Inez and Whit's relationship is mind blowing! They don't begin in the best of ways: Whit has received orders from Inez's uncle to send her back home to Buenos Aires, but Inez has no intention of going back without first discovering the truth. Which is why, as soon as she docks in Alexandria, she runs away from Whit, who has come to retrieve her at the dock, setting off a whole series of events. I loved the construction of their relationship! It is sort of rivals to lovers, characterized by a great slooow burn! I won't deny it, they made me sweat a lot! Their interactions are sizzling, their chemistry is highly explosive. Between tasty banter, teasing provocations, and fun escapes and chases, there is everything and more! I repeatedly swoon over their smoldering glances, fleeting touches, and delicate little gestures. As I said it is a very slooooow slow burn, at the moment without spicy, but charged with powerful sexual tension. Really, I have melted happily at each of their interactions and need more of them!

The secondary characters, who more and who less, convinced me. Some seemed better characterized than others, but in general I found them interesting and functional.

All in all, this is a wonderful historical fantasy, characterized by a magical setting, an enchanting story, an evocative prose and excellent characters, which I absolutely recommend!

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book looked and sounded absolutely stunning and I was so eager to read it.

I have always loved the idea of visiting Egypt - although maybe not in the 19th Century. Whilst the reason behind Inez's trip is not necessarily a positive one, I was totally enraptured by the description of the country, it is so vivid and it evokes smells and sights and sounds. Isabel has completely whetted my appetite for it. I still don't know if I'll ever visit Egypt, but I really want to learn more about the ancient lands and language of the country. I was also interested in the odd Arabic words popping up every now again. It's a fascinating language and now I want to learn some - the same with hieroglyphics, but I'm aware that may be a bit more challenging.

I do have my issues with people digging up ancient Egyptians and disturbing mummies and whatnot. Whether you believe in curses or not, it does seem quite disrespectful, and sometimes dangerous. This book, whilst fictional, has ignited that debate in my mind once again.

A 19-year-old woman travelling on her own at the latter end of the 19th Century was a rare sight in itself, but it was a powerful one, and I think Isabel has captured that well. It is a dangerous time and environment for her, but she won't let that put her off her mission.

It is such a perfect book that I hated having to tear myself away from it. I just wanted to read it from start to finish in one seamless go. It is so powerful in so many ways. I can't pinpoint one exact thing that makes it so special. It's an accumulation of every bit, the setting, the characters, the location, the secrets and lies, the relationships and friendships and enemies, the history, the power. It's all just SO good!

This is the first of Isabel's works I have read, but I'll definitely be seeking out her others if this is anything to go by. Her craft of the English language to portray emotion is superb.

I found it really moving. And not just because of the obvious deaths of her parents (not a spoiler - written in the synopsis above). The happiest and the saddest moments moved me to tears. Everything is heightened and it just made me rather emotional.

It is perfectly paced, buzzing with excitement and the promise of treasures and beauty. It's slow enough for you to get wrapped up in the characters and the situation, but fast enough to feel like a proper adventure. It gives you enough of what you want exactly when you want it.

I received an early digital copy and read it at the beginning of October. But I promise that once this is released in physical form, I will be buying copies as Christmas presents as it is just glorious.

There is the odd illustration, usually showing us what Inez herself is drawing, and it's a nice surprise. You rarely get images in adult fiction, and I don't know why. It adds so much to the reading of the story.

I thought it would be a straightforward, but enjoyable, story. From A to B to C and so on, on an interesting journey. But there's twists and turns and shocks and surprises that really upped the ante.

It is its own story, but I will beg and beg and beg for a sequel. I need more of this world. It is so shockingly amazing that I just can't stop thinking about.

It excels across genres: romance, historical, fantasy, adventure - even a little bit of magic. It's got just about everything you could want from a book. It's enchanting and grabs you immediately right to the very end. It is simply unforgettable.

What a setting! 19th century Egypt with tombs, mysteries, a unique magic system, Cleopatra, family secrets.... And, most of all, an FMC that is not naive, annoying or constantly making the wrong decisions (well, you could argue the latter... but you shouldn't lol), and many plot twists that left you screaming.
I loved everything about this set up, and I desperately wanted to make that journey down the Nile myself. The writing lets you immerse yourself in times long past with just enough fantasy elements to keep it interesting.
As the story moved on, I found myself being slightly disappointed, thinking that the two main mysteries (an archeological/magical one and a family-related one) could have a bit more depth and...well...mystery. However, at the end of the book (damn you, cliffhanger!) I am fully trusting it to come back big in the next book. And oh, I can't wait for the next book!
I wanted to give this four stars, but the cliffhanger bumped it up to just shy of a five star highlight.

4,5/5 stars

Thank you @netgalley and @hodderbooks for the eARC!

#netgalley #WhatTheRiverKnows

I’ve been stuck in “nothing sounds good’ mode when it comes to reading later and I'm happy to say that this book has cleared up this problem. It was exactly what I needed- history, magic, a bit of romance, a bit of mystery. Perfect! Any book which has a comp of “The Mummy” is one that I will absolutely want to read! Best movie, best love interest, best sidekick, best heroine… Yes. All the yes. I really enjoy Inbanēz’s work, so I had high hopes for this.

It was really special.

As a (very small) caveat… I did struggle with the first bit of the book. It starts with the main character in South America. She finds out her parents are dead (this isn’t a spoiler, btw) and then we jump to Egypt. There are a lot of characters thrown at the reader, including a really tense dinner scene, and I feel like i didn’t get chance to orient myself in this world. By the end of the book, it becomes more clear why this was a critical part of the setup, but since we don’t know this at the beginning, it just felt a bit jarring.

Aside from this small bump, it was a wonderful, exciting, sensory adventure in what I’m calling historical magical realism. The setting was fantastic. The characters were interesting- especially the love interest. There's something particularly intriguing about hard-bitten rogue with a heart of gold. I’ll be interested to see what happens in book 2, since the ending was a major cliffhanger with a really unexpected twist.

Brava, Isabelle!

This story is everything I didn’t know I was missing!

The fact that even through Inez was shelter she still went to Egypt alone to figure out what happened to her parents was so courageous!!

I felt that Inez’s spirit was somewhat similar to Cleopatra. The betrayals, loss, and courage felt so similar to the last Queens as well as their independence, joy, courage, and hope.

The artwork in the book is beautiful.

I believe everyone needs to read this book when it comes it. It dazzles and it is magical!

✨ 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 ✨

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: What The River Knows
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): Isabel Ibañez
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 5/5

𝘏𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘱. “𝘓𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯, 𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦, 𝘐’𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘐’𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐’𝘮 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘦?”
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦. 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦’𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘢𝘺. “𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘺,” 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺. “𝘐𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭.”

🤍 𝗬𝗔 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
🌸 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝟭𝟴𝟴𝟬𝘀 𝗘𝗴𝘆𝗽𝘁
🤍 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀
🌸 𝗔 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
🤍 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗘𝗴𝘆𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆
🌸 𝗔 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗮

Inez Olivera is a stubborn and curious lady of relative privilege and questionable ladylike mannerisms. Whitfield Hayes is the devilishly handsome—and sometimes, just devilish—assistant to Inez’s uncle, who recently became her guardian after both her parents died. Determined to discover the truth about what happened to her parents, Inez thwarts every plan of Hayes’ and her uncles’ to send her home to Argentina where she will be safe, choosing to risk danger for the truth.

I have fallen so in love with this young adult historical fantasy romance! I found this book frustrating in all the best ways, the quest for truth was never a boring or linear one and even after reading it, the truth seems ambiguous due to this book being the beginning of a series. The level of anticipation I feel for the Ibañez’s next book is at dangerous levels.

I adored the exciting and culturally rich writing which I felt the author had heavily researched to make this novel work. This book truly reflected the multiculturalism of Egypt and as a reader, I was able to bask in it and learn things that I never knew. Amongst this education, the author throws in lots of heavily surprising twists that had me constantly questioning everything!

My favourite part of this novel is possibly the sheer chemistry between Inez and Hayes. I loved their rallying back and forth and lived for their infuriating interactions with each other, always tinged with a shade of exasperation and admiration, which slowly morphed into affection.

I also didn’t realise how much of a love letter to Cleopatra this book would be. She is such a powerful historical figure, bordering on mythological goddess, and the author has done well to bring that otherworldly vibe to life with the magic system, and yet still managed to bring an element of emotion to Cleopatra’s story through the transference of magic.

Overall, this is an immersive and riveting beginning to a series that thematically explores colonization and Egyptology through the lens of two stubborn and delightfully tenacious main characters.

—Kayleigh🤍

I was not expecting this to be one of my favourite reads this year! This was as good as Divine Rivals and I can’t wait for you to all read it so we can discuss!!
Set in the 1880s, when Inez discovers both her parents have died, she runs away to Egypt to discover what happened to them. However her Uncle is now her guardian and doesn’t want her there- Inez is determined to stay and find out what he is hiding!
I loved so many things about this book. Inez is so determined and such a strong character. I was drawn into the story straight away, and felt irrationally angry when Inez had her ring stolen! How dare he! And when we are introduced to Whit and Inez describes him as despicable- I just couldn’t wait to see their story unfold. It was so easy to just keep reading and I did not want to put this book down.
This book doesn’t come out until 14th November but if you loved Divine Rivals I think you will enjoy this so get preordering!! But I will warn you- the ending will leave you desperate for more!!

WOW What the River Knows is full of well fleshed characters, twists and turns and stunning settings. I was whisked from Argentina, to high society Egypt, to treasure hunting in the Egyptian desert with such an excellent level of description it felt like I was there! A rich blend of history, fantasy, and mystery with a hot cold banter filled romance that keeps you on your toes the whole book.
Bit of a cliff hanger ending but worth it!

[ARC provided by NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton, Hodderscape. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review What the River Knows.]

Rating: 5/5

Somewhere inside me there is a young girl who will always be obsessed with The Mummy and that child is currently rejoicing because this book? It’s everything I wanted and more. The mystery was spot on, the plot twists had me screaming, and the romance? Perfection. This is literally everything I could want from a rivals to lovers fantasy set in Egypt. If you love magical realism combined with historical fiction then this is the book for you.

In this high stakes adventure, we follow Inez Olivera who, after learning about her parents death, travels to Cairo hoping to unravel the mystery and discover what truly happened to them. Guided by a ring that her father sent her, she finds herself tangled in a web of deceit, magic and historical secrets. Far from home, Inez doesn’t know who to trust, and when she meets the infuriatingly handsome assistant of her guardian, she realises that ancient magic may be the least of her problems, and staying in Egypt long enough to discover the truth behind her parents disappearance will be harder than she thought.

First of all, Inez is such a fantastic FMC. She is driven by grief and will stop at nothing in her effort to reach the country her parents went missing in, but there are so many facets to her character that push her through this journey. Following in her parents footsteps, she is a keen adventurer and shows little regard for her safety. Her naivety felt so believable and we watch her mature as the plot moves forward and her eyes are opened to the unfortunate truths that surround her family. I loved how incredibly brave Inez was and I was always rooting for her as every twist and turn was revealed to us.

Outside of the mystery surrounding her parents disappearance we’re also witnessing discoveries relating to the last pharaoh of Egypt, Cleopatra. As Inez assists her uncle in finding ancient sites relating to the famous pharaoh, the author does a fantastic job of imagining what the tomb of Cleopatra and Marc Anthony would be like. I was very happy that this storyline didn’t overwhelm other elements of the plot and felt that the author balanced everything perfectly. I also appreciated that the author considers the ethics when it comes to tomb raiding, as not all ancient artefacts are handled in the best way.

My favourite part of this story, unsurprisingly, was the rivals to lovers romance between Inez and Whit. I think something that works well is that you’re always second guessing a lot of reveals in this book and the romance is no different. Whit comes with his own set of intriguing mysteries and although he tries to avoid his affection for Inez, it’s clear to all that their chemistry is undeniable. Once again, I remind myself of The Mummy and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t imagining Brendan Fraser in literally every Whit scene.

I’m not even going to talk about the ending because I doubt I’ll recover from that cliff-hanger anytime soon. To summarise, just go read this book. It’s amazingly imaginative and will scratch that Divine Rivals / Emily Wilde itch if you have it. It’s also just a genuinely great book and I can’t wait for the sequel.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton, Hodderscape for providing me this book in exchange for an honest review*

This book is Mexican Gothic meets Indiana Jones but make it fantasy. I loved it. I mean enemies to lovers, in 1884's Egypt? Where do I sign? Also, don't get me started on the cliff-hanger. How am I suppose to wait for second book? Excellent idea, re-read What the River Knows.

I absolutely loved this incredible YA adventure! Thank you so much Netgalley for allowing me to read an early copy!

Isabel has done a brilliant job. I loved the historical details, you can clearly tell she's done so much research, (political, cultural, architectural, fashion-wise etc). It was such a lush, diverse world spearheaded by a passionate, artistic protagonist.

I loved the banter between Inez and Whit. I think because their situation meant he had to watch her and try to stop her getting into trouble, the fact that she often ran headfirst into it (in pursuit of answers) made so much of their dialogue actually enjoyable, heated and sometimes funny.

I've never been so frustrated for a character's situation, but it meant that I sided with Inez's character 100%. The infuriating characters around her--both for the time-period's control of women, and their secrecy--meant I could relate to her emotions the entire time.

I thought I'd pegged the twist, but then there was MORE. And it just got more shocking as the book went on. I gasped several times (which honestly never happens to me) and my jaw dropped (and stayed dropped) on the last few pages. I can't believe the ending. THERE BETTER BE A BOOK TWO!??

I'll be widely recommending this to anyone that will listen. Such a brilliant book and I hope it becomes a film one day.

Posting on 5th November 2023 to https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/159654603?ref=nav_profile_l

Calling all those who, like me, as a kid was obsessed with ancient Egypt. What the River Knows follows our main character Inez Olivera as she tries to uncover the cause of her parents’ death. Her search takes her all the way from Buenos Aires to Egypt, she sets off on an adventure, unfortunately running into multiple difficulties, all of which have the same name, “Whit”.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, not only because it reminded me of my childhood obsession, but also because the story was well written. The story was suspenseful and unique and included some twists you may not see coming. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to step into reading which contains some magic but isn’t all encompassed by it.

I look forward to seeing with the author has in store for future books, including the sequel to What the River Knows. Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc.

This book is an absolute triumph.

I came into it with little expectations, thinking that it was going to be a little dry as a historical novel, but it exceeded all expectations. It was the perfect blend of 1800’s historical fiction and low fantasy. I found myself drawn into a time period and place I know little about, the Victorian fascination with conquering Egypt and the acquisition of Egyptian artefacts, that were often carted back to museums in other countries or used in rich men’s follies. As a British person myself, we don’t learn much about the seedier sides of colonisation and the fact that we completely decimated other countries cultures for our own tourism purposes and I found this in the book to be particularly thought-provoking. The historical elements of this novel seemed well-researched and respectful.

The fantasy element is only a small aspect of the book but it is done really well, it is more to do with magic allowing you to have an affinity towards finding historical artefacts, kind of like dowsing. I enjoyed this mainly because it wasn’t overdone and I thought this book was quite unique in its approach.

Story wise, it starts off slowly and character driven but this works well for the questing element of the story. The characters felt well rounded and real and I liked that the main character was so plucky in a way that wasn’t like “the chosen one” or “not like other girls” tropes, because those are very over-done in fantasy at the minute, I read a lot so I often figure out plot twists way before the big reveal and although I predicted the big twist halfway through, there were quite a few plot points I didn’t predict, enough that it made the story feel exciting and fresh.

One thing I will say is that there is no disability or LGBTQA representation, but it wasn’t a book that necessarily needed that and I do not feel that is an essential for every book I read, I’d prefer a book that didn’t have it when it doesn’t fit with the storyline, rather than a book that shoehorns it in to be politically correct. Although there is a romance within the storyline,it is not a main focus for any of the characters.

5 stars, one of the best books I have read this year and after the ending, I am really looking forward to the sequel.

I loved this book!! One of them books that just has you hooked a few pages in and you can't put down. Amazing for 1st book in a series so can't wait to continue this series, Fairyloot has this book as there December book and I can't wait to own a special edition of it . Loved the setting, likable characters with amazing writing. What more could you ask for!

Isabel’s storytelling is gorgeous, i have been a fan for a while now and I can’t wait to read more from her.

Prepared to be swept into the world of 19th century Egypt.

The plot is gripping and full of twists and turns. Inez is charismatic. Whit is utterly charming and deviously delicious….and their chemistry is swoon worthy. The beautifully written prose sweeps you into a world of captivating scenery, glamorous hotels, and dusty archeological sites, all of which have a dark and dangerous edge.

Superb!

This novel effortlessly swept me away into its cinematic world of mystery, adventure and romance. Egypt (but not quite as we know it) was vividly imagined and richly described. I was immersed into Inez’ intrepid journey to uncover the truth and deeply invested in what she would find.

I really liked Inez as the main character. She made mistakes and could sometimes be naive, but she was determined, courageous and loved her family fiercely. The story was predominantly told from her point of view but there were a few short but sweet excerpts from Whit – the right hand man of Inez’ archaeologist uncle. I was quickly enamoured by Inez and Whit’s angsty yet playful dynamic. Whit had his own aura of mystery surrounding him yet it was clear that he was quickly catching feelings for her.

The plot’s overarching mystery as to what happened to Inez’ parents was genuinely intriguing, but took somewhat of a backseat while Inez was trying to determine who she could trust and what magic was hidden within the excavation site. The final act delivered quite a few shocks. It’s going to be a painstaking wait until the next one.

Overall, I was easily swept up by the novel’s cinematic world of mystery, adventure and romance. The captivating plot peppered in surprises throughout but I was still not expecting that dramatic cliffhanger!

This drew me in from the first page and did not let me go until it was finished (who needs sleep anyway ?). Fabulous story and beautifully written.

This is my second book I have read by Isabel Ibañez ( I read her debut book) and let me tell you THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD, so unexpectedly charming and extremely adventurous (not to mention the beautifully described scenery, food, archeological sites and the Egyptian mythology/history!).

You HAVE to read this!

We follow Inez, whom newly orphaned and kind off runs away from her home in Buenos Aires to sail to Egypt and learn what happened to her parents! She is clever, unapologetically true to her core values and an exceptional artist. She also has a special talent, she can pick up remnants of magic from ancient items that were once casted on with magic.
She joins her uncle expedition to find Cleopatra’s tomb, while also discovering pieces of the big puzzle surrounding her parents, ancient artifacts and black market of Egypt.

There is also a witty, laughable duo portrayed in Inez and Withford’s relationship and I cannot wait to see if they end up together in book 2.

The mystery is one of the many great side of this book what makes this story so amazing for me!

Thank you so much for Hodderscape, Hodder & Soughton , Netgalley and the author for the eARC , my review and thoughts are my own.

This book was awesome. Without a doubt my favourite this year. I have a weakness for all things Egyptian since I was a school girl, so this book was a must have for me so imagine how thrilled I was with a Netgalley approval. The time era was fascinating and I loved the main character. she was sassy without being overbearing and her strong personality sang through in the story telling.

While the book does deal with a standard YA trope - dead/missing parents it handles this in such an interesting way. Parents are 19th century archeologists who work in Cairo while leaving their teenage daughter Inez in their home of Argentina. She’s determined to find out what really happened and sets off on a life changing adventure.

This book has a brilliant narrative voice, beautiful writing and fleshed out characters of both the good and the bad variety. The love story is barely there but its one of those slow burners where you just want to shout “JUST KISS ALREADY!” at them. A fascinating magic system as well. As it’s a historical its very well researched and manages to mix fact and fiction really well. And some really good twists.

The last one made me laugh out loud and then almost shout “are you kidding me?” when you get to the last page. It’s been a long time since I’ve read something I enjoyed so much and really wanted the next one. And I really want the next one!

4.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC to review. All thoughts are my own.

You know, I can't think of a book that is more up my alley than this one from one read of the synopsis. What the River Knows covers all my favourite things: my lifelong fascination with Ancient Egypt, nods to historically accurate themes and happenings, a fiesty fmc who isn't prepared to let anyone stop her from finding her answers, delightful banter between the main characters, and a plot that twists along the way that keeps you guessing.

Inez, having lost her parents mysteriously, travels to Egypt to get answers, as well as discover for herself what kept her parents away from her. There she falls in love with the world she'd only heard of from afar, and uses her abilities (and some reckless stubbornness too) to ensure her estranged Uncle takes her with him on his next expedition down the Nile. In a world far deadlier than Inez ever dreamed of, she pursues her pressing questions over her parents' death, finds herself stuck within several layers of betrayal, and has to fight for her life when everything begins to unravel. I adored Inez and all her failings - she's been sheltered in her well-bred lifestyle in Argentina and comes to Egypt expecting to be able to find what she seeks. And whilst she's brazen, her short-sightedness and easily trusting ways make for some decent obstacles. I loved how her character learns whilst in Egypt, not just for growth to match the storyline, but more about the world and how dark it can be when power struggles are at play. And in a period where British occupation of Egypt and Western intrigue are at an all-time high, Inez finds herself in another world altogether than that back home. I think despite this, she is someone who can thrive so long as she has her strong belief system in place, and I liked how several men attempted to boss her around, but she did not placate them. She's easily joined my ranking of badass fmcs.

The romance subplot between Whit and Inez is where my heart fell in love with this story. Whit is fabulous at challenging Inez and yet became her biggest advocate for being allowed to choose more for herself. She put him in his place at several points and I respected he learned from those slapdowns. Their banter is top-tier, and his mysteriously tragic backstory gives just enough for my adoration of morally grey male characters to step in and lead me astray. Whit, alone, would have me picking up book two!

The clever nods to historical elements were well done. The era Ibanez set this in is one where it's at the height of exploration and discovery in Egypt. The world-building supported the information so it never felt dumpy or overburdened in the storyline. I enjoyed the rich atmosphere and realism the author managed to convey in this story a great deal. Whilst there is a magic element to this world, it worked well with the luxury and excitement that felt infused in this place for Inez. I thought when it came to the artefacts, it was a beautiful touch to add an element of magic and memory to the items Inez encountered.

Finally, the twists and turns, whilst somewhat predictable, are fun. I enjoyed my ideas either being flagged down or hyping up new concepts as I read, and the last portion of the book is so fast-paced, that I felt I was stuck trying to get enough air in with the deadly stakes at play. I will warn you, the ending is a huge cliffhanger, and I'm still reeling from it all, now several days since completing the read.

I did knock half a star off because I did find the magic system outside the artefacts really bizarre. It would throw me off a little when they would hold onto a sandal or rely on a handkerchief for something. I also feel like characters were sometimes lazily thrust into a scene where it didn't help the overall flow just to offer up some information for Inez, or moments that happened with other characters that I would have loved dragged out for more than just the lesson it served to teach. These are all just nitpicky thoughts, however, and I'm super excited to continue with this world when the next book releases.

I was drawn in from the start and I found not put it down. Beautifully written and incredibly immersive. I can't wait for the next installment.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc. all thoughts are my own.

This book was so good! This was a historical fantasy full of betrayals, mystery, magic, and adventure. What the River Knows follows Inez who travels to Egypt from Argentina after learning of her parents mysterious death. When she arrives in Egypt her Uncle who is now her guardian and her Uncle's assistant try to send her back to Argentina, but Inez is determined to find out what happened to her parents and she is soon roped into a dangerous mystery.

Right away I loved FMC Inez, who was a little feisty, a little headstrong, a little reckless and very hasty to throw herself into harm's way - much to the chagrin of long-suffering MMC Whit, with his constant eye rolling and sighs of disbelief.

This book is, for all intents and purposes, an adventure story - there's a lot of cool history, lots of vivid detail, gorgeous descriptions of places and artifacts, but most of all it's just very fun and gallops along with plenty of old-fashioned adventure. Its been so long since I read a book this exciting, exciting in the same way movies like The Mummy and Indiana Jones were.

Hugely recommended to anyone who fancies their YA with a little more gun-slinging, treasure-hunting, mystery-solving and rollicking action.

The romance subplot between Whit and Inez is where my heart fell in love with this story. Whit is fabulous at challenging Inez and yet became her biggest advocate for being allowed to choose more for herself. She put him in his place at several points and I respected he learned from those slapdowns. Their banter is top-tier, and his mysteriously tragic backstory gives just enough for my adoration of morally grey male characters to step in and lead me astray. Whit, alone, would have me picking up book two!

🐪"Fragile things could survive"🐪

The Egypt has always fascinated me but unfortunately I have always found few books set in the land of the Pharaohs..Reason why I was attracted to this book! What the River Knows is historical novel that accurately captures the history of Egypt in the period of English occupation in which it was also influenced by the cultures of the west with a touch of fantasy given by the magical realism!

Inez is intelligent, strong, determined and independent which was an uncommon thing given the historical period. Like her parents she has an adventurous spirit, however considering that she has never been out of 'Argentina, she is often naïve and often makes mistakes. Page after page, however, she matures and falls more and more in love with the world.

Whit, on the other hand, won me over just by being British!!! 😂 joking aside, he's fascinating, mysterious, full of contradictions and inner torments... besides the fact that he's a gray character!

Every word ,interaction or glance exchanged between Inez e Whit laid the foundation for crazy chemistry and tension! Whit continues to challenge Inez, but at the same time he presses to give her a chance to have choice and be independent.Inez on the other hand often manages to put him in his place and from these situations he only takes cues to grow!

I loved the author's vivid and evocative writing that managed to transport me effortlessly to the colorful markings of Cairo and all the way to Cleopatra's mysterious tomb. So if you are a lover of the movie "The Mummy" or have always dreamed of exploring Egypt or an archaeological site , I absolutely recommend this book full of magic,love and mystery that captivated me from the start!

WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS was one of my most anticipated reads of this year and it lived up to it. This is a sweeping tale of Egypt-mania and mysteries and protecting the past all while not knowing who to trust.

Like many kids, I went through a broad "ancient world" phase, but it never really stuck with me. However, as a teen, being "the mathsy kid" I did a lot of reading into how hieroglyphics were translated, and that stuck much more (I am absolutely that person) so a book that's set in that era, looking at Egypt-mania sounded so interesting. No, this isn't about translating hieroglyphs, but it does tackle the theft of objects perpetuated by the British and other Colonial Powers. (The real life British figure in this book is so slimy and awful and a brilliant representation of the snobbery and bigotry of the colonial powers.)

It's a brilliant story, full of magic and adventure in nineteenth-century Egypt in search of a lost temple and treasure while trying to solve the mystery of what happened to Inez's parents - and who she can trust. I loved how clearly the research had been done (it's a historical fantasy that is light on the fantastical and trying to be grounded, and manages to pull this off well.)

I spent a lot of this book wanting to shake Inez's uncle to get him to actually be nice to his niece. There are so many things that could have been prevented if he even tried the littlest bit to be family and share even the smallest part of what they were doing, rather than keeping her in the dark "to protect her." He's a very complex character, very easy to dislike and suspect (and what he does at the end! Has he learnt nothing!?) it's very hard to talk about all the things I liked about this character without spoilers, but it was so well done and I look forward to seeing how he's taken forward into the next books.

This book is the first in a "true" duology - the second book directly continues the story forward (unlike WRITTEN IN STARLIGHT, which is a companion to WOVEN IN MOONLIGHT, and has a contained story.) I very much want to read the next book immediately to find out what happens next.