Review Detail

WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS is a unique YA historical mystery/fantasy that takes the reader to 1884 Egypt. Inez lives in Buenos Aires with her aunt and two cousins, but she dreams of traveling to Egypt, where her parents spend half the year. Her parents are currently working with her uncle to search for Cleopatra's tomb, something Inez is incredibly interested in, having grown up learning all about Egypt and Egyptian history.

However, something has gone wrong, and her parents are missing presumed dead. With her new inheritance, Inez does what she has desperately wanted - heads to Egypt. There, things are not quite what she expects, especially with her uncle and his assistant, Whit, trying to rush her back to Buenos Aires. Determined and endlessly curious, Inez will have her adventure.

What I loved: This was a well-researched story with plenty of history and mythology that made for a unique read. Egyptian history is described for the reader as relevant while Inez experiences and considers the things she encounters and what her parents were working on. There is also a history of magic that was fascinating, and this underlies the story in a really compelling way. It was woven throughout with a feeling of magical realism.

Inez is a really compelling character. She is somewhat naïve at the start, having been sheltered by her family and her prospects of the time period. Her determination and clever/curious nature will carry her to new discoveries and open her eyes in new ways. She is learning fast, and she made for quite the guide on her adventure. Her growth during the story felt like a coming of age in some ways as she begins to really take charge of her life and her future.

The story and mysteries really take off and felt refreshingly new. Inez is living in a time of ancient Egyptian excavations and discoveries, and this lends itself to the magic and intrigue of it all. There were some important nods to the treatment of artifacts and the ways that different governments/foreign entities have treated the findings, and this was a really significant discussion/inclusion. Other themes around archaeology were also really thought-provoking with implications for the items we see in museums.

What left me wanting more: As a small thing, it did take me a while to get into the story, with the beginning feeling like a lot of setbacks and slower paced plot. However, the second half of the story moved quite a bit faster as things begin to happen and the plot thickens. We also get some of Whit's perspective, and I had some mixed feelings about the relationship developing between him and Inez. I am not sure if more understanding of his perspective or something would have helped for me to buy into it more.

Final verdict: WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS is an overall unique and compelling YA historical mystery/fantasy that takes the reader for quite the ride! Be prepared to eagerly await the next installment!