What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

Title: What the River Knows

Author: Isabel Ibañez

Series: Secrets of the Nile

Release Date: October 31, 2023

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Genre: Fantasy, Historical Romance, YA

Source: digital, Amazon

TW: death, murder, death of parent, alcoholism, gun violence, violence, kidnapping, infidelity, war

Synopsis

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

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

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

Thoughts

If you’re a fan of The Mummy or Indiana Jones, you’re going to love this story. Fair warning, it ends on a cliffhanger that will have you screaming at the book.

This book was an amazing adventure through Egypt during the Victorian Era, searching for the illustrious tomb of Cleopatra, the Last Pharaoh of Egypt. We had beautiful descriptions of ancient Egyptian tombs and artifacts, Cairo during the height of the mummy craze, one sassy FMC, and one dashing scoundrel of an MMC.

The tension that builds between Inez and Whit is the definition of squee, but Inez never lets him get away with it, and Whit never lets Inez get away.

This was such a great story with a wonderful mystery. I could easily see this being a movie, and I would love if it became one. The pacing was great, and too often I found myself amazed at how much time had passed while I was reading.

I need the second book in my hands right this second. I have to know what’s going to happen next, but unfortunately, we must wait! The good news, Isabel Ibañez already has the second book fleshed out! It will be here before we know it, but that’s never soon enough, is it?