Isabel Ibañez stepped onto the scene in 2020 with her dazzling debut, Woven in Moonlight. Celebrating her Bolivian heritage in this deeply rich and exceedingly stunning YA fantasy, Ibañez explored both magic and the politically charged climate of her family’s homeland. Chosen as one of Time magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time, she made quite a splash with her sumptuous descriptions, her dedication to bringing Bolivian culture alive–especially when it comes to food–and her heart-warming romance that centers the story.

Beyond her writing skills, she also lent her graphic design ability to the cover. Creating a dazzling display of vibrance and color that she developed when creating greeting cards before her publishing career took off. And take off it did. After her debut, she released a sequel to the story, Written in Starlight, a year later.

This duology was followed by her only current standalone fantasy, Together We Burn, about a flamenco dancer who has to become a dragon hunter to save her family legacy.

Ibañez’s books are a brilliant swirl of history, culture, adventure, magic and love. Often compared to Tomb Raider or Indiana Jones, these female-led, South American-set stories have put her in a class all her own with delightful familiarity any thrill-seeking reader can get behind.

The Second Book in the Secrets of the Nile Series is Here

Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

With her latest duology, Ibañez has reached new heights. Hitting #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, she explored the ancient secrets of Egypt in What the River Knows. Likened to The Mummy, book one in her Secrets of the Nile series has skyrocketed her visibility and created an eager fanbase who is anxiously anticipating the arrival of her latest novel (and the sequel to What the River Knows) Where the Library Hides (November 5, 2024).

She Reads: Tell us about the inspiration behind the Secrets of the Nile duology.

Isabel Ibañez: I grew up reading Agatha Christie. Her mysteries are classic and even amidst the dead bodies, oddly nostalgic and comforting for me. I have always wanted to write a mystery with lots of plot twists but do it in a way that feels true to me and my interests. When I was a kid, I wanted to be an Egyptologist, and so when I grew up and writing became my career, I knew I’d one day write a story set in Egypt. The Secrets of the Nile duology has all of my favorite things: a main character who isn’t a warrior but a dreamer, wanting to belong somewhere and yearning to make sense of the world around her. She’s bright and curious and impulsive, a teenager of her time and perhaps with an eye to the future, too. The love interest is morally gray and constantly questioning people and their motives and intentions. He’s cynical and sensitive and probably a little sad all the time. Together, I think they learn to heal and grow up, making mistakes along the way because no one gets it right the first time, or even the second.

Where the Library Hides picks up after Inez Olivera travelled across the world to Cairo following the untimely and mysterious death of her globetrotting parents. After facing the perilous journey, filled with dark magic and betrayal, she is alerted to unsettling news. To acquire her sizable inheritance, she must wed Whitford Hayes, a nemesis and the one person who could thwart her plans. This latest releases promises more fantasy-filled fun and another heart-pounding rivals-to-lovers romance.

Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Ibañez fans and those new to her work are also being treated to the paperback release of Together We Burn with an outrageously stunning new cover for the format.

Suffice to say, we are in full celebration mode over Isabel, here at She Reads, and are delighted to have her featured on the cover of our November 2024 issue.

What Isabel Ibañez Reads

As always, we’re not only obsessed with the books an author is writing, but also with the books she’s reading to keep the creativity flowing. As she mentioned above, Agatha Christie was huge in her formative years and she’s come full circle to writing a book she felt captured that feeling of reading her classics.

In an interview with The Nerd Daily, she also sited Harry Potter, and Goosegirl as memorable reads.

But we couldn’t resist asking what her current read is.

SR: What are you currently reading?

II: Because I’m writing a Historical Fantasy, I tend to read books in a different genre to give my mind a break. Currently, I’m reading Sarah Adams’s ROME series. It’s delightful.

What’s Next for Isabel Ibañez?

Currently, Isabel is on a book-a-year release schedule and there are no signs of slowing. As she wraps one duology, her Instagram has been abuzz with news of entering the revision phase of her next novel, Ravenna. So, of course, we had to ask her about it.

SR: Tell us about Ravenna, your next project. 

II: I’m currently in developmental edits for RAVENNA, my debut New Adult standalone. It’s a Historical Fantasy, set in the Italian Renaissance in 1478. I’ve been having a lovely time researching the time period and getting lost in this whimsical but deadly world. There’s magic, and a jaded knight who also happens to be immortal. It’s a project that has been living inside my head since 2021, and it’s a bit surreal to finally get it down on paper. I can’t wait for everyone to meet Ravenna!

It’s an exciting next move to see her go from young adult into new adult, but undoubtedly, the things that have had us swooning over her for years–history, culture, adventure, magic, fantasy–sound like they will be just as prominent here.

In the Eye of the Storm

As she graces the shelves with her latest novels, Ibañez has also landed in the midst of another media spotlight. On September 27th, she took to Instagram to share how she’d been personally impacted by Hurricane Helene as a resident of North Carolina.

“Courtesy of Hurricane Helene: The River Arts Distract in Asheville is underwater. My mind can’t grapple with the devastation. So many people have invested their hearts, their time, their money into making it what it was. A truly special place showcasing all that’s unique and beautiful and quirky in Asheville. Countless art galleries, restaurants, coffee shops, my favorite yoga studio, all underwater. I’m completely heartbroken for everyone impacted. To all my family and friends, we are safe and have food and water. Our neighborhood got hit pretty bad but our house made it out ok. Some of our neighbors were severely impacted. I’ve tried reaching out to my local community; my internet comes and goes. Please stay safe. 💔💔💔”

Thankfully, her home and her family were spared some of the worst, but it is no less a reminder that the books we read and the authors we adore who write them are all people, living their lives and experiencing our world one human moment at a time. Below we’ve provided some information from Isabel about how you can help the people of Asheville, but as we celebrate her accomplishments, we’re also holding a great deal of space for her as she navigates the devastation of this storm that struck a little over a month ago, claiming the lives of locals, permanently shuttering businesses, leveling homes and swallowing up stories that had yet to be fully told.

SR: How can the She Reads community help the people of Asheville?

II: Please check out https://www.belovedasheville.com
They have a great list of places to donate and are keeping everyone informed on day to day needs and happenings. Thank you!”