Reviews with content warning for Grief - What the River Knows

Reviews tagging 'Grief'

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

69 reviews

agathajanemaud1908's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny hopeful informative mysterious relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved this book so much! It’s described as The Mummy meets Death on the Nile, but I think it’s more like The Mummy meets the Amelia Peabody series, which is an ideal combination to me.
I took two weeks longer to finish it than it should have if I hadn’t taken a break because I didn’t want it to be over. Can’t wait for the sequel!

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tmkutawrites's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I enjoyed this book, for as long as it took me to finally get around to reading it. I loved all the characters. The main POV character is your usual Plucky Female MC type, and her enemies-to-lovers romance with her love interest is always great. I think the author handled grief well; it didn't just disapear halfway or a quarter through the plot like it often does. Some of the plot points were fairly easy to spot, and the pacing stuttered and stopped, but yo....the end?

DIABOLICAL. I have mad respect for anyone who ends a book like that. Hot damn!

Will this be a book I pick up and reread? Likely not. But will definitely be reading the sequel!

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antoniac's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes

3.5

A nice easy-read romp but the plot felt convoluted at times. That faster paced ending worked well. Unusual for the male lead to be more interesting than the MC but I think it's true in this case! I was on the fence as to whether to read the next one, but I'm a sucker for a cliffhanger so I guess it has to be done !

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purplesapphire's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book: 400 pages. This book if literally anyone told Inez anything near the truth: 100 pages.

Still good though, if a bit frustrating at times. Good fun. Loved the historical accuracy the author put into it. And maybe I'm biased because I love Egypt but I'm genuinely excited for the sequel.

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aklovekorn's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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zarhara's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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mixxroxy's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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bree_h_reads's review against another edition

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DNF 27%

I think this book has a lot of potential, but it just didn’t click with me.

I really liked the characters and their dynamics. I loved Inez’s internal monologue and how she thought of things. She was clearly intelligent and clever and strong-willed, but also had blind spots and her stubbornness could get her into trouble. The writing style was wonderful and I loved all the descriptions. I loved the vibes, especially how much it felt like The Mummy.

It just didn’t feel like anything was happening. It took until 27% into the book for actual plot to kick off and I don’t think that’s pacing that appeals to me at the moment. I might try the book again later, but waiting that long for the plot to pickup is a bit of a turn away for me.

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sustainably_lucia's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I have nothing bad to say about this book except that I need the sequel immediately! I don’t want to wait till November to find out what happens. (I have issues with the dubious morality of some of the characters but that’s a me thing, the characters are excellently written.) The setting and writing are beautiful. The characters are diverse and complex. The plot is twisty and surprising. The beginning is a bit slow but it picks up. The ending is intense.

I liked the soft magic and thought it added a nice layer to the world and the story. I loved the historical aspects as well. I’m not familiar with Egyptian history but I appreciated the respect that Ibanez shows to their people and culture.

If you like Egypt, magical objects, intrigue, adventure, dangerous secrets, and witty banter, you’ll enjoy this book. The audiobook is excellent and the physical copy includes some beautiful illustrations. I haven’t stopped thinking about this book since I finished it a few days ago. I’m still recovering from that ending and going back over every detail trying to piece it together. I have some theories and I’m praying for a happy ending.

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victoriousbookworm's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious

3.0

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