November 1884. Inez Olivera lives a charmed life in Buenos Aires surrounded by beautiful things and the apple of her parents’ eye when their are together. But the Oliveras have another love demanding their attention for half of every year: Egyptology and the hunt for artifacts imbued with the nearly lost magic of ancient Egypt.
Inez knows that if only her parents would let her travel with them that she could be useful to their expeditions with own ability to detect magical items.
Tragedy strikes before Inez can make her latest argument to that effect when she receives knews that both of her parents are dead–lost on their latest expedition.
With only the name of a guardian she’s never met and the mysterious ring her father sent home in his last letter to guide her, Inez impulsively travels to Cairo determined to find answers.
Egypt is filled with details from half-remembered stories and the ghosts of her parents’ past. But it is also filled with secrets as Inez learns that there is more to her parents’ deaths than an unfortunate accident. Inez will have to work alone–and fast–to get the truth as her new guardian keeps trying to send her home with help from his handsome assistant, Whit.
Her search for answers brings Inez to Egypt but it will be her own wits and the shocking truths she uncovers that keep her there in What the River Knows (2023) by Isabel Ibañez.
What the River Knows is the first book in Ibañez’s historical fantasy duology. The story concludes in What the Library Finds. Inez, like the author, is Bolivian-Argentinian with a diverse supporting cast. The book is primarily narrated by Inez with very (very) short chapters from Whit (who is white and English) interspersed throughout.
What the River Knows creates a compelling alternate history where ancient Egyptian artifacts still carry traces of magic and archaeologists work in secret to protect artifacts from the sacking and desecration of colonizers and tourists. Unfortunately despite the purported urgency much of the story moves at a glacial pace detailing the minutia of Inez’s journey to Cairo instead of anything related to the larger plot.
Inez spends the entirety of the novel acting impulsively to the point of recklessness concerned with no one but herself. Even as Ibañez describes Inez’s affection for her aunt and older cousin and her deep affection for her younger cousin, it never rings true as these characters only come up as convenient plot points. Inez constantly exhibits a stunning lack of care that comes close to narcissism and precipitates a tragic (and entirely avoidable) series of events in the novel’s final act.
What the River Knows delivers a fascinating alternate history but ultimately fails to realize its full vision with an underwhelming heroine and woefully underutilized supporting cast. Readers intrigued enough by the cliffhanger ending will be excited to read on.
Possible Pairings: The Winter Duke by Claire Eliza Bartlett, The Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett, Steeplejack by AJ Hartley, Before We Disappear by Shaun David Hutchinson, Goddess Crown by Shade Lapite, The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee, The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa, The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros
Miss Print 