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What the River Knows
The Mummy meets Death on the Nile in this lush, immersive historical fantasy, filled with adventure, a rivals-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race.
A divine exploration. A deadly secret. A desire she can’t escape.
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 for the most: her globetrotting parents – who frequently leave her behind when they venture off on their exploring adventures.
When she receives word of their tragic deaths, Inez inherits their massive fortune and a mysterious guardian, an rchaeologist 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.
—
‘Expertly plotted, explosively adventurous, and burning with romance’ Stephanie Garber
‘A delightful read’ Jodi Picoult
‘Phenomenal’ Mary E. Pearson
‘As thrilling as it is insightful’ J. Elle
‘Sweeping’ Elizabeth Lim
‘Swoon-worthy’ Rachel Griffin
‘Luminous’ Rebecca Ross
(P) 2023 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
A divine exploration. A deadly secret. A desire she can’t escape.
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 for the most: her globetrotting parents – who frequently leave her behind when they venture off on their exploring adventures.
When she receives word of their tragic deaths, Inez inherits their massive fortune and a mysterious guardian, an rchaeologist 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.
—
‘Expertly plotted, explosively adventurous, and burning with romance’ Stephanie Garber
‘A delightful read’ Jodi Picoult
‘Phenomenal’ Mary E. Pearson
‘As thrilling as it is insightful’ J. Elle
‘Sweeping’ Elizabeth Lim
‘Swoon-worthy’ Rachel Griffin
‘Luminous’ Rebecca Ross
(P) 2023 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
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Reviews
Author Isabel Ibanez must be an alchemist herself as this book will keep you spellbound and enchanted until the 'I didn't see that coming' cliff hanger of an ending . . .
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
Fast-paced yet lyrical, with twists that keep you flying through the pages while Ibañez's evocative prose makes you want to savor every sun-drenched paragraph, What the River Knows is a truly enchanting work of storytelling. All the stars
Expertly plotted, explosively adventurous, and burning with romance. What the River Knows is a pulse pounding archeological hunt that exquisitely weaves together glittering pieces of history with fascinating mythology. This book should come with a seatbelt, because you'll will want to buckle up for this brilliant ride
Phenomenal. This is a book that truly deserves that word. What the River Knows has it all-page-turning mystery, adventure, intrigue and betrayal, laugh-out-loud banter, and slow-burn romance with characters that jump off the page. I am a fan for life
A sweeping historical fantasy brimming with adventure, romance, and richly researched lore, What the River Knows is a treasure of a book. Ibanez's worldbuilding is masterful, and the chemistry between her characters is swoon worthy
Luminous and enchanting, What the River Knows gleams with dangerous secrets, a clever heroine, ancient tombs, and a mystery that readers will be eager to unravel. A romantic, spellbinding adventure
Intricately threaded with real history, What the River Knows is romantic, adrenaline-soaked, and gleaming with clandestine magic. Opening like a dusty puzzle box, it reveals a spirited heroine, her prickly love interest, and an adventure that will spirit you away to the serpentine waters of the Nile. A masterpiece
Magic and mystery, quests and romance sparkle in Ibañez's dazzling historical adventure novel. Prepare to be whisked on a whirlwind ride to the glittering banks of the Egyptian Nile by a plucky, courageous heroine!
What The River Knows is a historical adventure ripe with delicious twists, swoony angst, and sassy wit that is as thrilling as it is insightful
With vivid descriptions, singular magic, and shocking betrayals, What the River Knows is a thrilling adventure the whole way through. Add in a swoon-worthy romance and Ibañez's beautiful prose and this is a journey readers will eagerly go on
Then there are those books that linger in your mind as if you've lived in the pages themselves; those books that are so full of everything you love to read that they sing to your very soul. Isabel Ibañez's What the River Knows is that kind of book
Like it's action-packed cinematic predecessor, this story is at once a thrilling voyage into all things Egyptology and a sweeping rivals-to-lovers romance, whilst at the same time exploring the complicated bonds of family. It has everything you'd expect from a YA fantasy - compelling mystery, surprising twists, daring escapades and quippy dialogue. But it has a sophisticated edge that gives this book a more honed, grown-up feel than Ibañez's previous YA offering, Together We Burn
Deeply atmospheric and magical, you'll easily get swept up in the adventure
The LoveReading Team adore this vibrant historical fantasy adventure novel set in Egypt with a plucky heroine at the helm
Splits the difference between good old-fashioned adventure and romance, with a dash of fantasy on the side. The fantastic elements of the novel - largely confined to ancient items retaining magical powers in an age of science - elevate it beyond the run of the mill of historical fiction. It is skilful work too to introduce magic to a modern setting without fundamentally changing the nature of that fictional universe: hats off.
