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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
This rating has more to do with how I feel about the book emotionally than technically. The setting, like the first book, was done wonderfully and I truly felt like I could see and feel the ambience of the streets of Cairo in the 1800s. Picking up where the last one left off, this book is an above adequate ending to the Secrets of the Nile duology.
This is going to read like a negative review, but please be aware that I actually did love this book. The vibes were immaculate and there was just a hint of magic to make the plot more interesting and that was really all that I was looking for with this series.
Despite the fact that the library that is in the title doesn't even come up until like 65% of the way into the book, my main issue this time around was the characters. What made both Inez and Whit interesting in the first book made them annoying and childish in this one and it felt very old. Inez's ability to see the best in everyone has now come across as airheadedness and gullibility. I also felt that there was way too much forgiveness when it came to what Whit did to Inez at the beginning of the book regarding her finances.
Some bits of the plot near the end felt a little messy but overall worked. I don't know why, but I felt the stakes needed to be higher. I felt more of a rush at the climax of the first book than I did this one.
This is going to read like a negative review, but please be aware that I actually did love this book. The vibes were immaculate and there was just a hint of magic to make the plot more interesting and that was really all that I was looking for with this series.
Despite the fact that the library that is in the title doesn't even come up until like 65% of the way into the book, my main issue this time around was the characters. What made both Inez and Whit interesting in the first book made them annoying and childish in this one and it felt very old. Inez's ability to see the best in everyone has now come across as airheadedness and gullibility. I also felt that there was way too much forgiveness when it came to what Whit did to Inez at the beginning of the book regarding her finances.
Some bits of the plot near the end felt a little messy but overall worked. I don't know why, but I felt the stakes needed to be higher. I felt more of a rush at the climax of the first book than I did this one.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
A stunning ending to this Egyptian duology. Inez has decided she must find her mother to face the punishment of what she has done. Our daring and still optimistic FMC must face betrayal, grief, twists, turns, and decide who her family will be all while trying to find her mother, free her uncle, and avoid death. You never know where her decisions will take her in this wild tale. It is fade to black with some language
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Confinement, Grief, Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content
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
This was a great duology! I enjoyed the second one of this series even more than the first
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed What The River Knows so I couldn't wait for the sequel - unfortunately, it let me down. For starters, Whits whole "marry Inez for money but also because I love her" plan was just silly. She needed to marry to stay in Egypt - why not make using her money a condition of the fake marriage? That way the entire conflict could've been avoided. It wasn't even a worthy conflict as Inez instantly forgave him when he mentioned his sister.
Overall the plot felt too long and it struggled to get to its namesake, the Library of Alexandria. The plot twists didn't do anything for me as it felt so muddled. On top of it all, the epilogue didn't serve any purpose, and her mother was only jailed for 2 weeks.
I really enjoyed What The River Knows so I couldn't wait for the sequel - unfortunately, it let me down. For starters, Whits whole "marry Inez for money but also because I love her" plan was just silly. She needed to marry to stay in Egypt - why not make using her money a condition of the fake marriage? That way the entire conflict could've been avoided. It wasn't even a worthy conflict as Inez instantly forgave him when he mentioned his sister.
Overall the plot felt too long and it struggled to get to its namesake, the Library of Alexandria. The plot twists didn't do anything for me as it felt so muddled. On top of it all, the epilogue didn't serve any purpose, and her mother was only jailed for 2 weeks.
52% in and still no mention of a Library like wtf am I reading? Also Whit’s character was declining so much, it’s like a cheesy telenovela soap opera (and not the good kind) at about 4% into the book. Disappointing
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
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
This was such a great sequel!
I loved the characters and seeing their relationships develop more. Like the first book I loved the historical vibes and enjoyed how this one expanded the setting even more. The tie ins to ancient Egypt became even more prominent in this one. It was also just a really exciting read with lots of twists, betrayals, and jaw dropping moments. I totally sped through the second half of the book!
My one complaint is that the characters did annoy me in the first half of the book. Some of their decisions weren’t great and I feel like some issues could’ve been avoided if they communicated with each other upfront. But it did add for some enjoyable drama.
Definitely recommend this duology!
4.5/5 ⭐️