What the River Knows Book Review
Check out my review of What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez, a richly detailed historical fantasy set at the foot of the Egyptian pyramids.
When life gets extra-crazy, finding a book that gets you out of your head and dreaming of exotic locales and adventures is an especially wonderful experience.
Sometimes I need a book with a little more meat on the bones than my favorite swoony romances. In that case, I always turn to fantasy or mystery books. What the River Knows checks both of those awesome boxes.
I grew up watching (and loving) Indiana Jones movies with my dad. Inez, the main character of this book, reminds me a bit of what Indy’s daughter might have been like if she was a wealthy heiress in the 1880s.
The book opens with a mysterious letter and ends on an intriguing cliffhanger. But don’t worry, there are just 2 books in this series so it isn’t a major investment of your attention.
Curious if this book is for you? Check out my full review below.
Summary of What the River Knows
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 I Liked
Here’s what I would tell my best friend about the book:
- Full of Wanderlust: I love international travel and did it extensively in my early 20s. I really connected with the main character, Inez, and her desire to travel the world. The richly detailed Egyptian setting had me pausing to look up real world maps and photos and truly sparked my imagination.
- A Little Bit Indiana Jones, A Little Bit Agatha Christie: There’s murder, mystery, shady characters with suspicious motives, and a heavy dose of magic and enchantment.
- Feisty Female Main Character: I loved Inez’s grit and determination. For a girl in the 1880s, she doesn’t let any of the social norms of the time stop her.
- Spanish Chapter Titles: This is such a tiny detail, but it really enhanced my enjoyment of the book. I frequently see Spanish phrases in stories when that is the native language of the main characters, but I truly enjoyed the chapter titles being in Spanish, too. It added just a touch of ambiance, I love attention to detail like this. You just know the rest of the story has been handled with equal care and attention.
- Tame Romance | Kid Friendly: I loved that this is a book I would feel comfortable sharing with my younger daughters.
What I Didn’t Like
Every reader needs something different from a book. What I may not have preferred may be your favorite part.
I didn’t really believe the romance between Whit and Inez, it always felt a bit forced to me. There were also so many side characters, I found myself forgetting just who is who after a few later night reading sessions when I must have been too tired to be paying attention.
This isn’t a “going to bed” relaxing book, it’s one you’ll want to read and pay attention to or you might get lost.
How Spicy Is It?
🚫: What the River Knows rates a Level 0 on my spicy books rating scale. There is some flirting, some kissing, and some desire but no official acts of intimacy.
How Many Books Are in the Series?
What the River Knows is book 1 out of 2 books in the Secrets of the Nile duology. The sequel will be named Where the Library Hides and will be available on November 5, 2024.
Overall Score
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I give What the River Knows 4 stars. It’s a fun action mystery for anyone intrigued by Egyptian history and mythology who appreciates a strong female lead character with a touch of romance.
I’ll absolutely be lining up to grab a copy of the sequel, Where the Library Hides, when it is published.
If this is your first time reading one of my reviews, you may want to check out how I score my reads with this scale guide here.
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