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What the River Knows
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
39 posts | 29 read | 22 to read
The Mummy meets Death on the Nile in What the River Knows, Isabel Ibañez's lush, immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt and filled with adventure, a rivals-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race. 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 a 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. What the River Knows is the first book in the thrilling Secrets of the Nile duology. "Expertly plotted, explosively adventurous, and burning with romance." - Stephanie Garber #1 New York Times bestselling author "Take a plucky heroine, a historically grounded Indiana Jones-esque adventure through Ancient Egypt, and add a surprising dollop of magic -- it's a recipe for a delightful read." - Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author
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Zoe-h
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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Pickpick

Although it took me a while to get through, it was worth it. The book is set in an alternate universe where magic used to exist but is now a lost craft, with remnants in artifacts in Egypt. I loved the archeological elements as well as the twists and questionable motives of all the characters. 5🌟

lil1inblue I'm intrigued. Stacked. 3d
10 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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wen4blu
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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32 likes1 stack add
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Laughterhp
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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Pickpick

Really enjoyed this book. I wasn‘t really sure what it was going to be about. It was very obvious to me who the bad guy was. Inez gets a letter that her parents are dead, so she goes to Egypt to figure out what happened. All the characters are mysterious and have secrets that you don‘t really learn. This book also has magic.

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NikkiCureton
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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Pickpick

Slow in places, but overall a good story. The cliffhanger ending ensures that I‘ll be back for the sequel.

6 likes1 stack add
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nitalibrarian
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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#BookSpinBingo card all set.

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nitalibrarian
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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Starting this YA fantasy. #currentlyreading

28 likes1 stack add
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jen_hayes7
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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This Bookseat has been life changing for crafting while reading. Huey‘s also willing to work around it. 😹 #huey #catsoflitsy #crochet

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currentlyreadinginCO
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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Pickpick

Loved this Egyptian historical fantasy with dark magic undertones. I will definitely continue this series. Would recommend when you are in the mood for something dense & immersive.

70 likes4 stack adds
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jackilynn
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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I really don't want to put it down but I have stuff that needs to get done today 🤔😬 #bookwormproblems

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currentlyreadinginCO
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez

"He was a study of secrets and academic pursuit, the mark of an explorer."

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keys_on_fire
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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Pickpick

Catching up on my posting, having been super sick the last week of January.
#ISpyBingo - grave/tombstone

I enjoyed the background of Egypt and found myself looking up things that were mentioned. I appreciate how the author was trying to weave a magical element, but I feel like it wasn‘t fully baked or explained. I‘m torn as to whether I will read the sequel or not.
@TheAromaofBooks @Clwojick

TheAromaofBooks Hope you are feeling better!! I've enjoyed other books by this author - this one is on my list to get from the library soon! 3mo
monkeygirlsmama Glad it sounds like you're feeling better!! 🌞 3mo
51 likes2 comments
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Amie
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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Mehso-so

Disappointing. Slower-paced than I was expecting, and I didn't find the characters interesting. There was no resolution in the end because the story will continue in the next book, which I probably won't read.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Pretty photo â¤ï¸ 3mo
Amie @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks thanks 😊 3mo
40 likes2 comments
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Breanne1
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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Pickpick

I really loved this #botm selection and can‘t wait for the next book in the duology to drop November. Whit and Inez have lots to resolve…
Book 3 of 2024

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Gryffleclaw95
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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Pickpick

â­ï¸â­ï¸â­ï¸â­ï¸

“What the River Knows†was an interesting read that had several plot twists, but also had a couple surprises that I guessed were coming. I enjoyed Whit‘s and Inez‘s relationship and Inez‘s headstrong character, however she came across as a bit whiny at times. I‘m intrigued to see how the sequel continues this story.

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Twainy
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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Goldsboro GSFF October 2023 book box.

I‘m so far behind on book hauls … and reviews. I read this over a month ago … ðŸ˜

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SayersLover
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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Mehso-so

This one was hard for me to get into. The setting and historical details were fairly well done but the magical elements seemed too disjointed and not woven in at all. Just little dollops like something extra on top that doesn‘t match the flavor. Luckily the action and romance picked up a bit towards the end so I was able to finish it today.

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emz711
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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Starting up this one, what do you guys thing?
#egypt

emz711 Story is okay but the romance is awkward and the language is clunky. Listening at almost 2x speed, I've never done that! 4mo
22 likes1 comment
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Twainy
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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Mehso-so

Only one complaint & it‘s all about ME … I had listened to several books in a row with narrators with Spanish accents. This was set in Egypt. I expected a different accent. That‘s it!! Starts a bit slow. Historical, epic, fun.

â­ï¸â­ï¸â­ï¸1/2

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SayersLover
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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Starting this one tonight! I hope it‘s as good as it sounds. Regardless the cover sure is gorgeous!

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Kimberlone
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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Pickpick

Adventurous, character-driven YA/NA historical fiction with light fantasy elements and a good slow burn romance. This book definitely lived up to its comparisons to The Mummy, and my only real criticism is that the cliffhanger really surprised me since I wasn‘t aware this was the first book in a planned series. According to the author, the next book will explore the magic system in more depth, so I am looking forward to continuing with the series!

Kimberlone Christmas and New Year‘s also feature at the end of the book, so it unexpectedly fit for #WinterGames! 5mo
Saknicole 💕 4mo
Kimberlone @Saknicole excited to hear what you think! I am sure you will love it :) 4mo
46 likes3 comments
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Reecaspieces
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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Mehso-so
37 likes1 stack add
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ICantImReading
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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Pickpick

â­ï¸â­ï¸â­ï¸ðŸ’«

I‘ll admit this started off a bit slow for me, but it turned out to be an entertaining Egyptian adventure! It felt very cinematic - a great setting, interesting characters, a slow-burn romance, and twists and turns. I‘ll definitely pick up the sequel! (When IS that coming out? I need more of an explanation on that cliffhanger! 😆)ðŸŠâœ¨ #BOTM

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Kimberlone
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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Finally filled out my December #Bookspin board. Focusing on #TBR, #BOTM, and library borrows this month. Hoping to fit in a reread of the Shades of Magic series, so I can start The Fragile Threads of Power. Leaving my free spaces for any holiday-themed reads for #WinterGames I can fit in during December.

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Looks fantastic!! 5mo
25 likes1 comment
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Branwen
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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My November Owlcrate book has arrived! It's the same book as the October Goldsboro book, although this version looks quite different! I keep hearing really wonderful things about this book, so I'm excited to start it! 💕📚 #owlcrate

Booksblanketsandahotbeverage Wow! Stunning! 5mo
Librarybelle Wow! The end paper…â¤ï¸ 5mo
AnnCrystal 🤩ðŸ‘. 5mo
kspenmoll What a beautiful book! 5mo
56 likes4 comments
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paisleyjess
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
Mehso-so

I liked the setting, felt very much like the Mummy or Indiana Jones. But so much stuff happened in the last 50 pages and it confused me why that was rushed after hundreds of pages of slower plot development. Speaking of confused... there's a huge cliffhanger at the end. I see others are saying it's the start of a series. If I had known, I might not have read this.

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Preciouz29
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
Panpan

I wanted to love this so much and the description made me think I could, but I didn‘t. I had the hardest time finishing this book because her stubbornness drove me insane and took away any enjoyment from everything else in the book. That was sad, because short of her absolutely annoying the crap out of me, this was a pretty fun story.

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bookandbedandtea
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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These new #botm books are so pretty ðŸ˜

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Amie
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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#botm arrived today! I unintentionally color-coordinated my picks 💕📚

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TracyReadsBooks
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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Pickpick

While the protagonist was a little too 21st century to feel wholly authentic in a story set in 1884, I still enjoyed this story about a young woman who travels from Buenos Aires to Egypt to learn the truth about the deaths of her parents. Mystery, intrigue, magic, complex families, &, of course, a handsome assistant are all here in this fun if somewhat familiar story that also has some good twists. A solid, very readable start to a new series.

GondorGirl My copy was delivered today, but I won't be home until Monday. I'm really looking forward to it! 6mo
TracyReadsBooks @GondorGirl It‘s a really entertaining read. I hope you enjoy it! 6mo
27 likes2 comments
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TracyReadsBooks
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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Once I stop staring at this gorgeous cover, I‘m going to start reading this one! Just…need…to…look…away…

DGRachel I was all set to buy it knowing nothing about it purely by the cover and then I read the description. 🤩🤩 6mo
TracyReadsBooks @DGRachel This is definitely a book I would buy just for the cover! And agree 💯, the description makes it impossible to resist! 6mo
DGRachel My library has it on order and I‘m now #24 on 6 copies. 😂😂 6mo
TracyReadsBooks @DGRachel 😬 Hopefully it‘s worth the wait! 6mo
25 likes4 comments
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Born.A.Reader
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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#BOTM selection for November. I jumped at this one as I've been wanting to read it and my library didn't have a copy. It sounds so interesting!

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britt_reads
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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I don‘t normally gravitate toward YA, but I‘m curious about the tagged. It sounds good! The other two have been highly anticipated for a while now. Adding them to my cart was an easy decision.
#botm

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Laughterhp
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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Picked a few books for my #botm November box!

I‘m hoping the tagged book isn‘t too YA because it sounds really fun!

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Breanne1
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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My birthday month #BOTM pick is Divine Rivals. I figured now was the perfect time to try it out. Very excited for What the River Knows! Two YA picks, I‘m surprised by myself.

Jemgirl2014 🥳 6mo
17 likes1 comment
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nitalibrarian
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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I ended up with two YA books for my November #botm picks.

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Beachesnbooks
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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My #botm picks for November! I'm really excited about these, and I added the new Jesmyn Ward to my tbr to maybe add on next month.

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ICantImReading
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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I had to go with this one for my November #BOTM! Egypt, adventure, magic, mystery, romance - I‘m in!

Soscha New release!!! 🥰 6mo
robinb I enjoyed this! 😊 Happy reading! 6mo
ICantImReading @robinb loved your review! 😠@Soscha I‘m excited for it! 😄 6mo
45 likes3 comments
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robinb
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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Pickpick

This was so fun! A little Raiders of the Lost Ark, a little The Mummy, this epic adventure takes place in 19th century Argentina and Egypt as a young Inez Olivera travels to Cairo alone to discover how her parents died on an archaeological expedition with her uncle. She discovers clues that lead to unsettling conclusions. Can she trust anyone who knew her parents? Wonderful adventure, suspense, twists and a slow-burn romance combine to make a 🔻

robinb very satisfying story, one that will be continued with a sequel (and yes, there‘s a bit of an ambiguous cliffhanger). Recommended. 4.25/5â­ï¸ #coverlove â¤ï¸ 7mo
Bluebird Sounds great! Stacked! 7mo
robinb @Bluebird ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘😊 7mo
49 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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Missusb
What the River Knows | Isabel Ibañez
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Last day of holidays. Can only fit one more book in. This is it. #proofcopy #novemberrelease #historical #magicalrealism #ancientegypt and some #redflowers

GondorGirl I have this one preordered... I can't wait to hear your review. 7mo
17 likes1 stack add1 comment