Historical fantasy set mainly in 19th century EGYPT

30th July 2024

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez, historical fantasy set mainly in 19th Century EGYPT.

The Prologue in What the River Knows could almost be the first chapter, setting the stage for what follows once young Inez discovers that her parents are missing and presumed dead. We meet Inez as she’s about to turn nineteen. She’s hiding out in a rickety old shed at the back of her aunt’s garden in Buenos Aires as she waits for a letter from her parents. She isn’t happy and she misses them terribly and resents being left behind every time they go off on their travels, something that occurs frequently. When she learns the tragic news of her parents, she decides to go to Egypt to try to discover what really happened to them. Money is no object thanks to a whopping inheritance, but all is far from plain sailing.

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What begins as a search for answers soon turns into a fantasy quest due to a magic ring.  Thanks to the ring, much of the book involves Inez exploring the mysteries of ancient Egypt, and for some, the factual history side of this novel might be a little too much. I think the author has taken a lot of trouble to balance all the historical content with action, and besides, there are plenty of readers enchanted by the very idea of ancient Egypt. Crafting the story around a strong female lead will also attract many contemporary readers.

What the Rivers Knows is undoubtedly Young Adult. The plot is filled with a pleasing blend of intrigue and action, and has the usual twists and turns. The story is well-researched, too, and satisfyingly multilayered. However, the characterization isn’t the strongest and neither, at times, is the writing, at least for this reader. I did enjoy the use the author makes of the Spanish language. Overall, What the River Knows would appeal to mostly YA readers fascinated by both late-nineteenth colonial and ancient Egypt.

Guest Review by Isobel Blackthorn

Isobel is a prolific Australian novelist. She writes both contemporary/literary, thrillers and dark fiction. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter and via her website. 

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