It would not be accurate to say that I was only merely excited to tackle the second book in Isabel Ibañez's Secrets of the Nile series, Where the Library Hides. The first book, What the River Knows, ended on such a cliffhanger, that I am actually grateful to be able to pick up the second book right away...so you readers who hate to wait for the next book in a series after a tense ending in the previous one, you have been warned. Also, I will go ahead and issue a *spoiler alert* for this review. I will do my best to avoid spoiling crucial information from the first book, but I cannot guarantee anything.
The Situation: After traveling to Egypt, all the way from her home in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Inez has learned and been through quite a bit. While the news of her parents' death may have bought her to the Nile, it is the discoveries she has made since that make her so desperate to stay. Even after finding herself in many dangerous situations - some of which have been of her making - Inez is determined to discover the truth about what is really going on, not to mention the one thing that seemingly everyone wants to know, and that is if Cleopatra's tomb and all its treasures can be found. The answers seem so close, but there are still so many secrets in her way.
The Problem: Unfortunately for Inez, while her parents' death may mean she has inherited their fortune, she cannot access any of it without the permission of her Tío Ricardo. It is the 19th century after all. And following everything that has happened so far, he has demanded that his niece return to Argentina at once. Inez has no choice but to comply, unless she were to marry, and quickly. Much to her surprise, the opportunity presents itself in the form of the handsome, but mysterious, Whitford Hayes. Whit may be Tío Ricard's trusted assistant, and someone Inez has also come to trust and perhaps see as more than a friend, but he has his own hidden reasons for wanting to stay in Egypt. But Inez has not found what she is looking for, and the list of people she can trust and rely on will not stop shrinking.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult historical fiction book, once again set in Egypt, just like the first book. After the intense events of the previous installment, the book opens with Inez having to make a crucial decision, perhaps the biggest one of her life, with little time to carefully consider what her decision should be. The character of Inez had already been set up to be someone who is brave, though impulsive, and too easily launches herself headlong into trouble. And once again, she is attempting to traverse Egypt as it was in the middle of the 19th century, with explorers eagerly and greedily excavating the land, looking for riches and artifacts to hoard, smuggle, or sell, and with many of them being willing to do whatever it takes to make their fortune.
My Verdict: Taking on a book series, no matter how long or short, is always a gamble. There have been a few occasions on this blog where I have started a book series but decided not finish. And then there are even stand alone books that I have read, but lost the interest to write about or mention at all, usually because I did not enjoy them and simply wanted to move on. Not only am I glad to have started this series, but as I mentioned in the introduction, I was happy to be able to pick up this second book right away. It is somehow even more tense (emphasis on the word 'somehow') than the first, and I was looking forward to moments when I could pick it up again, whether it be a lunch break, while waiting for the laundry, or for a cake to bake, or the dough to rise...whatever. It is intriguing, it is exciting, and it is an adventure readers will not forget.
Favorite Moment: In both books, readers get small moments from Whit's point of view. In this book, those moments are slightly longer and give more of his history, and I was glad for them.
Favorite Character: Whit can be tough to like at times...most of them, in fact. So I will make him share this section with Tío Ricardo, who also has plenty of unlikable moments.
Recommended Reading: I recommend Babel by R.F. Kuang, which is a different kind of adventure involving magic and history.
