Welcome to Litsy!

Unpopular opinion: This was just annoying, none of it makes any sense and the romance happens on an insta love basis. MC is so unlikable, most of the motivations of any given character don't add up and all of the plot could have been avoided by people talking to each other. Also I found the plot twists very predictable. The confusing historical background was a bit hard to follow.

But came across the first flowers while listening�

Secrets of the Nile series

#WhatTheRiverKnows #WhereTheLibraryHides #IsabelIbanez #SecretsOfTheNile #book #books #bookquote #bookquotes #bookqueen #bookquirk #quote #quotes #bookworm #bookworms #bookwormlife #bookwormproblem #bookwormproblems #bookworld #bookword #epicreads #bookend #bookends #bookending #bookendings #bookedit #bookedits #bookeditor #Fantasy #HistoricalFiction #YoungAdult #Romance #Mystery #Historical #Fiction #Audiobook ������

A fun read, for the most part, but I do have a few issues. I liked both Inez & Whit but would have appreciated more character development. This was described as The Mummy meets Death On The Nile & I'm so glad I didn't see that until after as it would have been disappointing on both counts. My brain wanted to compare it to the Amelia Peabody series but luckily I was able to keep pushing that thought away as it would have fallen short there too. ⬇�

It's finally cold enough to turn on the fire (hooray) and I'm starting a new book (hooray again). 😊

I‘m a sucker for an Egyptian mystery/adventure but when I heard it was to be a duology, I waited to have the second in hand before cracking this open! Considering that cliffhanger of an ending, I‘m glad! Main character Inez leaves Argentina after receiving a letter about her parents‘ disappearance in the desert. Always longing to join them, she hopes to uncover the truth of what happened to them. Some predictable turns & Inez‘s naïveté soured it.

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#recentreads

I was a bit apprehensive as I was reading this one as it felt a bit “whiplash-yâ€� and I didn‘t love the interaction between the FMC and MMC. But as the book progressed it really gained momentum. Inez‘s parents spend half of their time away from Argentina in Egypt on archaeological digs. After receiving a letter from her uncle about their deaths, Inez treks to Egypt alone and is determined to find out what happened to them.

Inez Olivera, a young heiress from Buenos Aires, embarks on a perilous journey to uncover the truth behind her parents' mysterious disappearance. Alongside love interest Whitford Hayes, Inez navigates treacherous landscapes and ancient magic in a quest for Cleopatra's tomb.
#WhatTheRiverKnows #WhereTheLibraryHides #IsabelIbanez #SecretsOfTheNile #book #HistoricalFiction #YoungAdult #Romance #Mystery #Fiction #Historical #Audiobook #Adventure 💗💗

The pacing was a bit erratic but the characters were wonderful. I may never forgive Ms Ibanez for one of her choices. Atmospheric and mysterious with a touch of romance and magic, this book has it all. The motivations of a key player were quite obscure. Light pick.

My newest books from 2nd & Charles

#WhatTheRiverKnows #IsabelIbanez #SkinOfTheSea #NatashaBowen #book #books #bookbag #bookbags #bookbinding #bookbeau #bookblog #bookblogs #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookbackpack #bookbackpacks #bookbinding #booknerd #booknerds #bookberdsunite #booknerdy #booknook #booknation #nerd #nerds #nerdsunite #nerdy #bookmark #Fantasy #HistoricalFiction #YoungAdult #Romance #Mystery #Fiction #Historical #Adventure 💟💟

I enjoyed this, but not as much as I thought I would. Inez's naivety and decisions are very frustrating throughout. But the setting is amazing, and I'm curious enough to read the next one to see what happens.

This held such promise, but it was a disappointment.
The details on the writing were sloppy.
The motivation for Inez, though plausible, was too broad to give her focus.
I did like the romance between Inez and Whit. He was the best character out of this whole book!
The “shocking� revelations were eye rolling semi-disbelieving outcomes.
I got frustrated with the characters. Inez kept making one bad choice after another, never learning a lesson.

Current book club selection for August!

Crazy that I had to get the hardcover edition from my library, because there were too many holds on the ebook and audiobook on Libby! I would never have gotten it to read before discussion time at the end of the month.

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🌟

A letter changed my life.

#firstlinefridays
#currentlyreading

@ShyBookOwl

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.

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

#BookSpinBingo card all set.

Starting this YA fantasy. #currentlyreading

This Bookseat has been life changing for crafting while reading. Huey‘s also willing to work around it. 😹 #huey #catsoflitsy #crochet

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.

I really don't want to put it down but I have stuff that needs to get done today 🤔😬 #bookwormproblems

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

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

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.

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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“What the River Knowsâ€� 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.

Goldsboro GSFF October 2023 book box.

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

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.

Starting up this one, what do you guys thing?
#egypt

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.

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Starting this one tonight! I hope it‘s as good as it sounds. Regardless the cover sure is gorgeous!

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!

A bit slow! But I am in the minority.

https://reecaspieces.com/2023/12/08/what-the-river-knows-by-isabel-ibanez-bookre...

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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! 😆)ðŸ�Šâœ¨ #BOTM

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.

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

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.

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.

These new #botm books are so pretty �

#botm arrived today! I unintentionally color-coordinated my picks 💕📚

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.

Once I stop staring at this gorgeous cover, I‘m going to start reading this one! Just…need…to…look…away…

#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!

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

Picked a few books for my #botm November box!

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

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.

I ended up with two YA books for my November #botm picks.

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.

I had to go with this one for my November #BOTM! Egypt, adventure, magic, mystery, romance - I‘m in!