What the River Knows (December 2023) Mod Pick of the Month

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

This is the group thread for What the River Knows!

This thread is open for discussion beginning December 1st! Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed (mark as a spoiler) in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days of the month can be used to catch up if needed! Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads.

The Group Read Discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 11/29
December 1st: Prologue + Chapters 1-2 or 22 pages
December 2nd: Chapters 3-4 or 22 pages

Week of 12/03
December 3rd: Chapters 5-6 or 22 pages
December 4th: Chapters 7-8 or 22 pages
December 5th: Chapters 9-10 or 22 pages
December 6th: Chapters 11-12 or 22 pages
December 7th: Chapters 13-14 or 22 pages
December 8th: Chapters 15-16 or 22 pages
December 9th: Chapters 17-18 or 22 pages

Week of 12/10
December 10th: Chapters 19-20 or 22 pages
December 11th: Chapters 21-22 or 22 pages
December 12th: Chapters 23-24 or 22 pages
December 13th: Chapters 25-26 or 22 pages
December 14th: Chapters 27-28 or 22 pages
December 15th: Chapters 29-30 or 22 pages
December 16th: Chapters 31-32 or 22 pages

Week of 12/17
December 17th: Chapters 33-34 or 22 pages
December 18th: Chapters 35-36 or 22 pages
December 19th: Chapters 37-38 +Epilogue or 22 pages


You can read the group book at any time during the month and at your own pace. This is the pace the group will be using, but if you read ahead or will be giving spoilers, please mark them (click the "some html is ok button"). If you have any questions a mod or another member can help you.

[Hafs, Games Procrastinator]

ahhh excited for this one!!

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Hafs wrote: "ahhh excited for this one!!"

Me too! My physical copy came just in time. Can't wait to start tomorrow :D

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Okay, so. This book is not bad at all! Am loving the writing so far, it's definitely keeping me engrossed in the story.

Prologue: (view spoiler)[ I feel for poor Inez, the eagerness awaiting the letter from her parents only to receive bad news in the end. Her aunt kind of reminds me of that one lady off of Mexican Gothic that always freaked out over messes and primness and such. So not sure if the aunt will pop up in the story later on or not, but I already don't like her lol. (hide spoiler)]

Ch. 1-2 (view spoiler)[ My money is on her uncle's assistant that he'll be the love interest. And oh! That museum guy? What a jerk! He pretty much stole something that wasn't even his! (hide spoiler)]

[Dia]

I've been really excited to read this and I've already breezed through part 1. I enjoy the prose, it is immersive and transports me to Egypt in the 19th century. I love the little details and descriptions of the people. I am intrigued by the magic and how Inez seems to be more affected by it compared to others around her. I would like to see how much more magic we will be exposed to. I also love the drawings that is included in parts of the chapters, the visual aid is so helpful and helps break up the story as well.

Part One - Chps 1-11
(view spoiler)[ I feel sorry for Inez too, especially when she's always wanted to spend more time with her parents, only to have it taken away.

I am appalled and angry at the British. My blood boiled when the man Inez met on the train dared to suggest they're just trying to make Egypt more civilised. I mean, look at them now, The British have one of the worst train systems in Europe. The foreigners who are stealing Egypt's artifacts and selling them to tourists?? It makes me angry because they've done it to so many nations and are still doing it. ugh I hate people.

I can already forsee romance with Inez and Whit, and it will surely be a slow burn. (hide spoiler)]

Chp 12 - (view spoiler)[ I love how resourceful Inez is and she's being very brave for a 19 year old but I guess times were different then, where you needed to grow up quickly. I know it's alluded to many times that there's something wrong with her parents' disappearance but to hear RIcardo say her father deserved to die? GASP. I can't wait to discover what's going on. (hide spoiler)]

[Dia]

I finished this a few days ago. Here are my thoughts:

(view spoiler)[ I like how resourceful and smart Inez is, but it also feels like there's little flaw to her character as she isn't even scared of the dangers, of not only being in a foreign country but by the fact that her parents were possibly murdered? I was looking forward to the romance between Inez and Whit, and while I appreciated the slow burn, it also feels like there isn't much romance between them, like we don't see it so it's a little difficult to buy into it. I feel like emotions seems to be lacking sometimes in this book where they mattered. (hide spoiler)]

Spoilers for the ending (view spoiler)[ OMG I'm so sorry for Inez, I did not expect the character death. That was not deserved at all. And if her mother really orchestrated that to keep her "safe", omg that is just evil. and what was the ending?? I did not realise this was not a standalone so that caught me off guard. Omg Whit what have you done (hide spoiler)]

[Hafs, Games Procrastinator]

am I the only one that doesn't like the MC, the author's attempt at writing a headstrong character failed terribly (she isn't headstrong, she isn't even brave she's just straight up stupid) I have a feeling she'll ruin the reading experience for me bc the one thing I hate is an insufferable MC :(

I also don't have high hopes for the romance so it's up to the plot (if it ever shows up) to save the book

[Dia]

sorry you're not really enjoying it Hafs. I do agree Inez has many shortcomings but I forgave it because she's been sheltered all her life and is still a teenager hahha. I wouldn't count on the romance either I enjoyed the writing style so that was probably the selling point for me

[Hafs, Games Procrastinator]

I am struggling.... I can't believe this is the book I was so eager to read like??? and I cannot (I refuse) to DNF it (the romance is not a slow burn, it's not burning at all...) and the plot is a little under caffeinated for my liking