What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez
What's It About?
"The Mummy" meets "Death on the Nile" in this lush, immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt and filled with adventure, a rivals-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race. 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 (Wednesday Books) by Isabel Ibañez is a historical fantasy with all your favorite things: magic, mystery, deception, politics, twists, turns, and a delicious, very slow burn/forbidden romance. Once I got started, you could not pry this book from my hands. All the elements of this book come together so perfectly, making it one of my top reads of 2023!
A Mysterious Ring and Trip to Cairo
Inez and her family are part of the upper society in Buenos Aires, and she has everything she could ever want but is missing the one thing she wants most: her parents. When Inez receives news of her parents’ death from her estranged uncle and new guardian, Tio Ricardo, she is left yearning for answers. Against all odds, she sets sail for Cairo, against her new guardian’s wishes. She has packed nothing but the essentials, which include her trusty sketch pad and the last gift her father gave her: an ancient golden ring. When she arrives in Egypt, the mysterious ring leads her down a path where she discovers there seems to be more to her parent’s disappearance than she was made to believe.
From the beginning, I absolutely fell in love with our female main character, Inez. She is so headstrong, curious, and determined to discover the story of her missing parents that she will do anything and everything to find the answers she seeks, including, but not limited to, pissing off Whitford Hayes, a former British soldier and her uncle’s assistant. There is so little that we know about him, but we do know that he is intelligent, strong, and has a mysterious past of his own. Inez and Whit’s chemistry throughout the book is intense. Still, because Tio Ricardo has forbidden them from being together, they are forced to fight their ever-growing feelings for one another.
Immersive Writing in Compelling New Series
Isabel Ibanez’s writing is so lush and immersive that I could so clearly see the Egyptian hotel, the marketplace in Cairo, their journey on the Nile, and the site of the dig with the temples, tombs, and ancient artifacts. Everything was described with incredible detail. It was like I was watching the movie in my head. Also, I love the sprinkles of Spanish through the dialogue. It felt very authentic that their family would speak to each other in Spanish, making the story more engaging.
The family dynamic was so frustrating (in the best way) but also so natural. They fought and disagreed like a real family would, and their relationships were complicated, which is precisely what you would expect from a niece who has only met her uncle once. I was going back and forth the whole time, wondering who I was supposed to trust, which built the suspense for what was such a heartbreaking realization for Inez.
Also, that ending?! Are you kidding me? You can’t do me like this…I need to know what is going to happen immediately! Never has a cliffhanger left me so shocked. I know this one will stay with me for a long time!
About Isabel Ibañez:
Isabel Ibañez is the author of Together We Burn (Wednesday Books), and Woven in Moonlight (Page Street), a finalist for the William C. Morris Award, and is listed among Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books Of All Time. She is the proud daughter of Bolivian immigrants and has a profound appreciation for history and traveling. She currently lives in Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband, their adorable dog, and a serious collection of books.
