Epic of Helinthia

Epic of Helinthia #1

by M.J. Pankey

When a madman seizes the throne, the gods on Olympus fall silent, and the island of Helinthia descends into decay.

Anassa Iptys' glorious city burns. Forluna escapes with the rightful heir, a descendent of Apollo, and hides him away. But the new Anax, Charixes, is relentless. He will not rest until his hands are drenched in their blood.

Under Charixes' rule, the gods abandon the island, and a devastating famine ravages the population. Desperate to win divine favor and end Charixes' cruelty, Dargos persuades Kelric and Gadnor to join him in rebellion. They embark on a quest to rally support for war, leaving Dargos' sister, Gonivein, safe behind the walls of Shallinath.

But the Anax' spies have been watching, waiting for the right opportunity to strike. Capturing Gonivein is the devastating blow Charixes needs to crush all opposition to his tyranny.

To defeat him, they need the gods on their side. The heir of Apollo can bring them back.

There's just one problem: only Forluna knows where he is, and she has vowed to take her secret with her to the Underworld.

Epic of Helinthia  is the first in a series of four. An original Greek myth of warring gods and the mortals who must find a way to end the conflict before it destroys their world.

~*~*~*~

"An AMAZING DEBUT filled with gods and goddesses, heroes and villains, love and loss, blood and tears: everything a fantasy novel needs to keep readers turning the page late into the night!" - Maria V. Snyder, New York Times Bestselling author of The Poison Study

"Epic of Helinthia is A PAGE-TURNER OF AN EPIC-FANTASY DEBUT! Inspired by ancient Greek culture and mythology (and well-researched, too), this story is rich with political intrigue, plot twists, and betrayal, oh my! Can't wait to see what happens next." - Sharon Lynn Fisher, author of Salt & Broom

Genres: Mythology, Fantasy, Greek Mythology, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Adult, Historical

386 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2023

About the author

MJ Pankey (goodreads spells it wrong) is an author, freelance editor, and host of the Augusta Writer’s Critique Group. She has been writing fiction since she was 12 and has published several short stories and a novel, Epic of Helinthia. Her muse is most inspired by ancient mythology and the intricacies of human psychology and behavior.

She lives in Augusta, Georgia with her husband, Eric; three children, Dante, Athena, and Artemis; and furry writing companion, Petey.

Epic of Helinthia is the first in a series of three (possibly four) novels. The second book in the series, Oracle of Helinthia, will publish 7 May 2025. Join her newsletter for updates and sneak peeks via her website: www.mjpankey.com.

MJ is an avid reader and champion of Indie novels/lesser known books and authors. She posts her reviews on Instagram and is always open to new recommendations.

She also hosts the live Book Club for Save Ancient Studies Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to spotlight the importance of ancient studies in the modern world, and is always on the lookout for novels inspired by ancient history. Find out more at www.saveancientstudies.org.

Learn more about MJ on following social sites:

mjpankey.com
museandquill.com
Instagram: @authormjpankey
TikTok: @mjpankey
Twitter: @mjpankey1

Reviews

[alexandra osborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Epic of Helinthia is a very original and complex fantasy written by MJ Pankey. It reminded me a lot of Madeline Miller books and the world was very similar to and heavily inspired by Ancient Greece while still remaining very unique.

I loved the writing and thought that Pankey did a great job of bringing the world of Helinthia to life. I enjoyed the multiple povs and the characters were all fleshed out with distinct personalities and growth. I really liked Gonivein and Gadnor but Dargos and Kelric weren’t my favorite just because I thought they were kind of dull. The development of the relationships between characters was done really well too.

The place where this book fell short for me though was actually the setting. I enjoyed the world building but it was too confusing and I wasn’t able to fully grasp it and visualize the world. I felt like certain things needed to be described more beyond the glossary at the front. I also wish that there weren’t so many side characters (ex. Loric, Crusates) and I lost track too many times.

All in all, The Epic of Helinthia was a decent book and I really did enjoy it. It was hard to follow at times and it wasn’t very gripping, but it still was a fun read.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, MJ Pankey, and Muse and Quill Press for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review

[Maria V. Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from the author. It's coming out in October. I'm not a big fan of the Greek gods/goddess pantheon and was worried this would be too similar to others I've read. It wasn't! I really enjoyed the characters and world. You might think this is epic fantasy because of the title, but it reads like more of a traditional fantasy and isn't bogged down with a ton of world building details. I zipped right through it. My only quibble: it leans toward the darker side of fantasy. There are trigger warnings, which is helpful, but it's a bit more brutal that I normally like to read.

I did write the following cover blurb for the author:
"An amazing debut filled with gods and goddesses, heroes and villains, love and loss, blood and tears: everything a fantasy novel needs to keep readers turning the page late into the night!"

[Hegeleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

MJ Pankey's Epic of Helinthia is the fast-paced and adventurous first instalment in a series set on the unique, ancient Greek-inspired island of Helinthia. When famine strikes harder and harder ever since anax Charixes seized control of the throne, some brave souls set out to put an end to his reign of terror that would only mean doom for the people of Helinthia.

I must admit it took me a little while before I could tell the difference between the vast cast of characters, but as the story developped and I got to know them, I was greatly impressed by the way Pankey presents her characters with all their flaws and vices. She really masters the way in which the characters act and make choices in line with their own beliefs and motivations, making them very human. While I found some characters rather unlikable, there were others who went through some marvellous character developement that's very promising for the next books in the series!

The island of Helinthia is a fictional one, but the society is well thought-out with Greek-inspired titles and ranks. I found the naming of the places and characters a bit confusing since most of them didn't sound very Greek, which made it difficult for me at first to really immerse myself in an otherwise Greek-inspired world. I loved the idioms that were invented for the island of Helinthia, however, which brought a richness to the world that helped to anchor me in the story.

Some of my favourite parts were the appearances of the gods. Pankey succeeds in portraying them as ethereal and larger-than-life beings who are close to yet at the same time very far away from humanity. I can only hope that we'll see more of them as the series continues.

Pankey's prose is tremendously varied, incredibly fluid and reads like a breeze yet is never dull or overly simple. But her true strengths in my opinion are her dialogues and her ability to create suspense that leaves you on the edge of your seat. Especially the final chapters are an avalanche of suspense and thrilling revelations. So I'm very curious to see how the story will develop in the following books.

I received an ARC from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.

[Krystle Rouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I would like to say thank you to NetGalley, Muse and Quill Press, and M. J. Pankey for giving me an arc and giving an honest review of. This was the first mythology forward book that I have read. I liked this book. This book is full of world building and twist and turns. This book does have multi POV’s. I would recommend this book. It makes me want to read more like it.

[Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to MJ Pankey, Muse and Quill Press, and NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review-- all opinions are my own.

I was very excited to receive this ARC because the cover alone is very pretty and the description drew me in from the first few sentences. I am a big fan of Greek mythology, so I was so ready to dive right into this book. Epic of Helinthia tells the story of a group of people, with their own perspectives and stories told respectively, who are on a journey to free their island and discover things necessary for the future of it. I won't go too into detail about said things because I don't want to spoil anything. It is easy to see that the author did a great amount of in-depth research for the story, which I appreciate a lot. The glossary of terms in the beginning was very helpful and I think readers who have a lot or have little knowledge about Greek mythology and terminology will enjoy it and the book more because of it. The pacing, plot, and dialogue between characters was very enjoyable. I really enjoy books that make me think about every possibility of what could be and keep me on the edge of my seat. Epic of Helinthia delivered exactly that. It was a bit hard for me to like some of the characters, for example- Kelric. But that speaks to MJ Pankey's good writing and character building and interactions. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an exciting read that is filled with twists and turns and Greek mythology. The only bad thing is that I have to wait for the next book.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I loved this book. The way each character's story came through during the book was brilliant. Each chapter a different character's perspective and adventure. There was passion, happiness, love, hate, death and sadness. The twist at the end was good but I guessed it was coming a few chapters before. If you like Greek mythology then this is the book for you. I will definitely be reading more books by M.J.Pankey.

[Sue Miz · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Thank you NetGalley and the author MJ Pankey for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own”
This was a 4.25 stars

The first thing I have to say is that this is the first book I have ever read that as much as I loved and was interested in the story, I did not like any of the main characters and they were supposedly the good ones.

Greek Mythology is deeply integrated in Literature in General, however, we find a few books dedicated to writing in this genre. Most are either dark retelling romances or YA adventure series.
So it was exciting reading this book that focused on showing the setting and character behaviors of those who lived in the time of gods.

The story switches between five main POVs: Dargon, his sister Gonivein, his love interest Forluna and Kelric, Goni's fiance, and his younger brother Gadnor in the imaginary island of Helinthia
It opens with a brutal scene of soldiers burning a city, unaliving its citizens and a mother trying to protect her son from the ruthless conquerer.
The main characters, years later, are trying to find a way to end the reign of the tyrant Anax Charixes and bringing prosperity back to the now starving region under his rule.

Several twists, turns and tragedies follow their pathes. Dargon must find a way to work with Kelric whom he loathes. Goni and Gadnor must accept their destiny, and Foluna has to come to terms with past decisions.

The story has all the elements we see and are drawn to in a Greek mythology
betrayal
brutal killings
family lose/ family gain
racism
mysogyney
patriarchal dominion
and of course the interference of the gods, which I especially loved how we got to see them present directly and not subconciously or metaphoracly.

I also loved the use of the lingo. The writer used many words that were probably used at that time like Anax for king, Anassa for queen, douloi for slave, and so on. She included a Glossary for these terms also at the beginning.

The book is intended to be a series so of course it ends with things unresolved, but it sets the atmosphere and introduces the key characters

which takes me to the point where I have to say that non of the characters, in my opinion, are likable. and I know that probably the writer set out to make them flawed, which they are, but I could not relate to any of them. In fact, there were moment when I just wished for one or two to just die.

They are the typical personality of Greek authority. They do not care about others except themselves. and even though we see them talking about "ending the suffering of their people" you get the feeling that what they really care about is mainting their seat of power.

Dargon is irritating and undecisive. He wants to appear strong protecting his loved ones, but he cared so much about what others think of him that he had no problem hurting Forluna, his love interest.
Forluna is a nymph and I guess immortal? or has long life? she was a key character past and present. But you'd think her experience and what she went through gave her backbone to stand up for herself! she hasn't got one. She takes Kelric's insults and Dargon's indeffence with not even one smart comeback!
Kelric is a jerk. There is no other word to describe it. He is so full of himself that he does not acknowledge others. but I think what redeems him is that he knows he's a jerk, he just doesnt give a damn.
Govivein (I don't even know how to pronounce her name. and is that a greek name at all???) is the typical spoiled princess who expects everyone to do her bidding and sacrifice themselves for her well being. She put so many people at risk and caused their death that I was "would you just die already"! and to think that she was choses by the god Apollo!!!
perhaps Gadnor is the best of them considering he is weak, timid and empathatic. But by the end he started showing some fierceness and I think we would be surprised by him in coming books.

but that this Greek mythology to you.
The gods and their representitives are so selfish that they do not care about the lesser people just how the events will go. So I guess this recipe works here

all in all, I enjoyed the book. I am waiting for the second one because I am interested in how the story will go. I hope there will be serious character development

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a lover of Greek mythology retellings, I immediately jumped at the chance to read "Epic of Helinthia". Some important points for readers: while this novel is inspired by these myths, author M.J. Pankey has crafted a brand new, fictionalized island called Helinthia with its own governing bodies and citizens. While there is some overlap in the gods and goddesses worshipped, there is very little otherwise that you'd find in previous lore.

"Epic of Helinthia" is told across rotating character perspectives, starting with siblings Dargon and Gonivein; Dargon serves as the basileus to his city state (polis) while his younger sister struggles to accept the responsibilities he believes she's capable of. Instead, Gonivein's focus is on Kelric, the son of the basileus of polis known as Shallinath who is depicted as a harsh bully, constantly picking on his younger brother Gadnor. The story focuses on the ongoing rebellion that Dargon is trying to lead against the king, and gains support from Gadnor and Kelric; however, the storyline branches out across each of these characters as they physically get separated and must come to terms with their own personal truths and battles.

I did enjoy the overall storyline and Pankey's writing; it's fluid and descriptive and easily painted the scenes of battle in my mind as the story unraveled. It's clear as well she's done a fair amount of research and work crafting such a complex society and world, with such an extensive cast of characters. However, I struggled for much of the book to get a grasp of the characters and setting; there is an extensive amount of world-building at play, given the differing polis, the hierarchy of governing powers, and the different social structures and classes built out. While there is a guide at the beginning of the novel to help with some of the terminology used, I still found it hard to get a good grasp of the storyline until much farther in than I would have anticipated. There are 5 differing perspectives included in the storyline as well, which also felt excessive; I didn't think Kelric's view added much to the novel as he was one of the more one-dimensional characters. While the overall pacing was steady, the identity of one of the key individuals that the group searches for is heavily hinted at about halfway through the novel, which felt off in terms of pacing for me. I also was surprised at the amount of romance elements that were thrown in across the novel as well as it was not one of the primary genres noted.

I think for those that typically enjoy Fantasy/Sci-Fi novels that have an extensive amount of world-building will find "Epic of Helinthia" right up their alley as it would definitely do well in a series. However, this is not the typical Greek mythology-based story that has become popular of late, so readers should be prepared in advance.

[kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE TIME HAS FINALLY COME FOR ME TO REVIEW THIS BOOK

It’s taken me long enough, but I figured since Ms. MJ Pankey was nice enough to keep up with my reading of her book, then I ought to return the favor and give an in-depth review.
Although it took me forever and a day to read (to no fault of the author, I just get illiterate every once in a while. C’est la vie, I guess) and even longer to review (I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WROTE A GOOD ONE, OKAY??) I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Anyone who knows me knows I’m a big fat slut for Greek mythology and I’m an absolute FIEND for a retelling. And, let’s face it, that’s what 99% of the fiction set during ancient Greece is - a bunch of reinterpretations of the myths. There’s nothing wrong with that - like I said, I’m a fiend for it - but sometimes it feels like the market has become over-saturated. And so, what did MJ Pankey do? She said, “Hold my amphora,” and wrote her own mythology. Unless I have a deep and profound misunderstanding of this book, Epic of Helinthia is an entirely unique tale set amongst the muck and mire of the Grecian political landscape. Although a few familiar names and faces appear, the majority of characters are the brainchildren of the author. It was an incredibly fun read (well, if you don’t count all the violence and gore and chaos) and a great starting point for what is sure to be a captivating series (also LOVE how Pankey ((or, MJ? Are we on a first name basis if we’re Goodreads friends?)) says the series will be three OR POSSIBLY FOUR books. Thinking you might be done but then realizing you have more to say is so me coded).
Since there’s a good likelihood the author will actually see this review, I’m gonna give real feedback and not just be silly like I usually am (though I will still be silly).


- Epic very much feels like the first in a series, which is completely fair because that’s exactly what it is. There’s a lot of exposition and world building, which takes a while to get used to (and I’m still not sure I understand the geography of the setting but that might be a me problem), but is far from impossible. Going off of that is just a recommendation for future readers: the map and list of terms at the beginning of the book WILL BE VERY HELPFUL. Reading this digitally (especially on NetGalley, whose app is absolute ass) makes it difficult to flip back and forth and keep track. So, I do recommend that you either wait to read until it’s physically published OR you keep in mind that it might be a bit cumbersome to keep all the ancient terminology and geography straight.

- Although I suspect it will feature more heavily in subsequent books, I wouldn’t necessarily rush to consider this book “mythology.” Aside from the obvious fantasy/mythology elements (i.e., one of the central characters being a nymph), the brunt of the drama stems from the region’s violent political conflicts. But, if anything, this is a testament to the storytelling. The gods always feel present, even when they’re not physically manifested within the action. They feel completely real and alive because that’s how the characters perceive them. However, I do feel like some of the narrative involving the gods was a bit rushed at the end and the rationale for their decisions could have been fleshed out a bit more. I’m also not entirely sure who Helinthia is exactly (she’s the patron goddess of the region, but given that she’s an original character — or at least obscure enough that I can’t find anything about her online — I would have liked to know more about her specific mythology). Like I said, though: I suspect these characters will feature more heavily in the rest of the series, so take this critique with a grain of salt.

- Despite each of the POVs feeling distinct, at times, I felt like there were a few too many narrators and not all of them felt 100% necessary. No offense to Dargon, but his perspective didn’t really add anything unique to the story. I thought of him like the Jerry Seinfeld of the book; the straight-man (not straight as in heterosexual, although that would also apply, wink wink) who is theoretically the most important but is the least interesting in practice. Every time I got to one of his chapters, I said to myself “UGH. GREAT. Another MAN coming in to pull focus from the women and the twink (also not confirmed that said character is a twink, but it feels heavily implied and my gaydar is extremely good). TYPICAL!!” But I didn’t feel the same way about Kelric, even though he’s objectively more of an dick (but I was definitely picturing him as a Big Old Hairy Hottie which probably helped my feelings about him), so maybe I just thought Dargon was a drip. Probably another me problem.

- I saw another reviewer note that some of the language seemed a skosh too modern for the time period and, although I’m not a fan of old-timey-speak, I have to admit I agree. Occasionally, the word choice was a little too current to feel completely authentic (I could be wrong, but I can’t imagine an ancient Greek saying “Have I plowed her before?” about having sex with someone). It took me out of the moment a little bit, but didn’t detract from the overall story.


Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I’m excited to see where the rest of the series goes. It’s a really interesting glimpse into the messiness of ancient politics and we all know I’m absolutely FERAL for some good tea, which this book provides in surplus. A great start to what I’m sure will be an epic *buh dum tss* story…er, I guess the word “epic” also applies here. An epic epic.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, but more than that, thank you to MJ Pankey for giving me the opportunity to read her book and for liking my silly little status updates about it. I hope you find this review to be, at the very least, mildly entertaining.

[Ellen Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me begin by saying this is my first ARC and I think I got rather lucky with my pick!

The Epic of Helinthia is an original Ancient Greek imagining set on the island of Helinthia. Well researched and wonderfully written you feel immersed within the setting. You can tell the author knows their stuff and it shines through the story. There's also a super helpful glossary!

I really enjoyed this one! The pacing was pretty great and the story builds to an epic conclusion. And I especially loved the little twist at the end.

The characters are well written and distinctive (Once I twigged that Gadnor and Dargon were two separate people, but come on their names are anagrams!). A balanced cast, each character felt dimensional and purposful to the story. I particularly enjoyed Goniveins POV and her story and wanted more!

A fun read for those who enjoy Greek mythology. I can feel the series growing into something quite epic and will be picking up the next installment.

Thanks to Net Gally and M J Pankey for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to MJ Pankey and NetGalley for this ARC.

Such a fantastic book, I really can’t recommend this book enough, the book is a fantastic as are the characters.

No spoilers as I do t want to spoil it for anyone else but if you love this genre of books then this is for you. Will definitely be getting more of her books when they come out

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a little while to get into this book. The first hundred pages were so slow but it did get better. This was a magnificent story full of heroes, wonderful characters and fantastic story telling. I enjoyed this book and did not it to end. Pure escapism and a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Thanks to Netgalley for the Arc.

[Juanita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a large fan of Greek gods and goddesses; I appreciate the amount of research done in this novel. I also appreciate that although you can see the influence, it was still uniquely the authors own.
I love watching these kinds of movies but have never found a book to give me the same feel, until now. A breath of fresh air!!

Thank you allowing me to view this before the masses!! I look forward to your future work!!

[Ariana Weldon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should admit first off, I am terrible with Greek mythology unless you're asking me to recap and sing everything from Hercules. Even then, I'm pretty sure that was Roman...
Anyway, you don't need to be a Greek myth scholar, or even know much about them, to enjoy this. It's, in general, a well written read.

First and foremost, the content warnings are accurate and sensitive readers should 100% heed them, because Pankey is evidently a good writter and they are fierce descriptions.

The book dives in straight away with a prologue of everything on fire. This isn't a spoiler, it's literally the first thing in the book. Because there's a mysterious baby mentioned at our fab nymph Forluna is fleeing to safety with, I spent a fair chunk of the novel going 'Oooooh! I bet HE was the baby!' whenever a new male character was introduced. The Aha!, sound of things clicking into place and the final puzzle piece making the picture didn't reveal itself until the end and oh my, that was satisfying. I think I whispered 'Oh, she's good' when the penny drop moment happened.

The book is told through a number of focal characters - is it POV if it's still third person? Whatever, let's say yes. We end up with a larger cast through the story but the main focuses are Dargon (which I kept misreading as Dragon at first), Kelric and Gadnor, Forluna (obviously) and Gonivein. Despite Dargon's presence and importance in the book, his character felt like the equivalent of a large houseplant. He was there and necessary to tie the story together in some places, like Pallas and Kelric wouldn't have gotten to Forluna without him, but I wouldn't have said he was central to things. He is the one spearheading the rebellion the book alludes to so maybe my opinion will change in the next book???

Gonivein, Dargon's sister, I have to say was the character I had the most change towards. I definitely thought she'd be the rich, spoiled and pampered character. Just strutting about doing whatever Dargon asked for while he's away and then marry Kelric. I was very wrong. Obviously she didn't suddenly become this insane, strong and wild warrior but she grows so much and stops being the coddled character very fast. Consequently, this makes her differences with Kelric more pronounced and that man is petty and pushy. There is going to be something dramatic between them I'm sure when he realises all the things she's capable of and wants going foward.

Gadnor was genuinely trying to be the houseplant you only briefly notice but his sense of right and wrong, justice and good heart comes through. He also gets poked in the head by a god which doesn't sound fun given my understanding of Greek god strength. I'm looking forward to him and his growing character as the story goes.

All the happenings are occurring on Helinthia, where we're told the gods fell silent. Dargon is devout and there are temples about but throughout each pivotal character development, the gods really aren't all that far. Now without too much of a spoiler, we do find out how things came to be the way they are and I am keeping my fingers crossed that while everything kicks off going forward we get a glimpse of what's happening in the God's domain. Since there's three, maybe four books, I'll stay hoping for a peek into Olympus while the mortals are doing their things.

[Dion · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, thank you, Netgalley, the publisher, and especially the writer for allowing me to be an Arc reader for this incredible book.

Let start with the characters they are all wonderfully written and felt like real persons I loved reading every chapter and all the perspectives we get in this book all are equally well developed and written and equal to each other.

The setting the Author has painted with her words a beautiful setting that felt well researched and well developed so much that you could believe it's part of actual ancient Greece if you didn’t know better.

The plot itself was great, especially the ending me on my edge of my seat and I didn't want to put this book down even when I had to because of sleep and work

I enjoyed reading this book from the very first page. I was hooked and loved reading MJ Pankey her prose is very vivid and very nice to read. I'm definitely looking forward to the next few books in this series

5/5 stars definitely recommend this book to everyone who loves Greek Mythology and Fantasty

[Aziza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, I want to say thank you to the author and to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this ARC !! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, and it was a pleasure :)) Also, the author is just the most wonderful and kindest person ever. They were so sweet whenever I spoke to them.

I'm a massive fan of Greek mythology, and this book ticked all the right boxes. It was very plot heavy and I did find myself getting a little confused between some characters (like Dargon and Gadnor, but that's probably because their names are anagrams), but I really liked it nonetheless and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series !!

Epic of Helinthia was a whole journey, and I think it's a perfect setup for the rest of the series. It does well in introducing the characters and their different backstories. I did find Dargon to be a little plain in the first half of a book, though. Even Kelric seemed to be more interesting and had more layers.

My interest in Dargon did increase a little towards the end of the book, though, but he still felt a little one-dimensional. But I guess that was bound to happen with so many POVs / characters. Nevertheless, I thought the writing was done incredibly well. The different povs tied together really well, and it was seamless.

My favourite character was Loric, and I don't want to spoil anything, but he deserves everything. Out of all the people tied to Gonivein, I feel like he was the only one who truly cared about her and her wellbeing and not for some ulterior motive. I was rooting for him throughout the entire book.

I also loved Gadnor. His development throughout the book was steady, and it made me really proud of him. He really proved himself, and I'm so excited to see what happens with him in the sequel. A brilliant character honestly, on par with Loric, if not better.

All in all, this is a great addition to the Greek Mythology genre, and I can't wait to see what the author continues to do with it :)) Would 100% recommend it.

[Aliza · Rating 4 out of 5]

MJ Pankey’s spin on Greek mythology is one that is very interesting and that kept me on the hook throughout.

As someone who enjoys Greek epics I feel as if this book showed a new perspective that I enjoyed a lot. I feel as if the strongest part was the characters as they were very complex and flawed, and I especially liked that I could see them develop throughout the novel. I would say my favorite characters were Loric and Gadnor.

Though the beginning felt a bit slow and I was still coming up to speed to some of the foreign terms, this book was a thrilling read and the Greek Myth background was easy to understand eventually.

Due to the shocking plot twist and cliffhanger I am very eager to read the next installment of the series, and to learn more the world of the Epic of Helinthia and its diverse characters.

Thanks to MJ Pankey and NetGalley for the ARC copy.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, MJ Pankey and NetGalley for the ARC in turn for an honest review.

For the girlies who read Percy Jackson as a kid and fell in love with Greek mythology, this is for you. This story takes place amongst multiple POVs in an Ancient Greek setting. It is beautifully written, and the author really immerses you in the setting and each scene. The glossary was very helpful for those terms that I wasn't familiar with at first.

The plot was interesting and had a good pace, there were both scenes that were fast-paced and some that slowed it down, and both were just as engaging to read. I found myself surprised by each twist and really enjoyed not being able to guess what would happen or who we would be meeting.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story and can't wait for the next one.

[Kirb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and M.J. Pankey for providing me with a copy of this book.
MJ Pankey really put the 'epic' into Epic of Helinthia. I'm grateful to hear that this is part of a series, because I am excited to follow this author in any future works.
For me, the best part of the book was the world-building. It read almost like sci-fi/fantasy in the beginning, with intricate world-building setting the stage for the rest of the novel. However, that's not to say it had a slow start. It managed it do all that while still throwing you right into the action.
All the narrators were interesting, which is a hard task when there's 5 separate POVs. One small issue I had was that most of the narrators travel in one party, whereas the final one was completely separate for most of the novel. So the jump from them to anyone else in the group tended to be a bit jarring.
The character and world building was really present even within the dialogue itself. One of my favourite details was that instead of talking about death, the euphemism they always used was referring to Charon and his ferry. Small details like that showed up throughout the text, and it made it feel very immersive.
The plot itself was a breath of fresh air. This is mostly on me for the retellings I choose to read, but reading about something other than the Trojan war was very exciting. The only issue I had with it was that I already hate miscommunication tropes, and the deliberate withholding of important information was even more frustrating. I understand that there was a reason for it, but having waited until the end of the book for said reason, I don't see how it could have possibly been that strong.
The last 10-15 chapters picked up the pace A Lot, to the point that I couldn't put it down because things just kept happening that I needed to know the explanation to. I look forward to the next book.

[ABrahosky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was initially intrigued by the setting of this book in the Greek Age of Heroes and the author used an anundance of Greek terminology to add flavor to this tale of good vs evil. Other than the pantheon of the gods and some terminology, the story could be taking place in almost any fantasy or historical setting.

Thankfully, the author had the foresight to include a vocabulary section at the fromt of the book, and also included a very well done map of this new land that will become the playground of the gods.

The story is at its root a timeless tale of good vs evil, and MJ Pankey tells it well. The most engaging part of this story is how the aithor develops the characters into unique individuals, with all the flaws and virtues, fears and hopes that real people possess. I came to rejoice or cringe along with them as events unfolded.

I am looking forward to the next part of this tale and more offerings from MJ.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Shawnae Aiu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story had many short stories at the same time building characters and history. It was so amazing how the author was able to jump from person to person and from the past to the present. It wasn’t confusing for the reader and it made the story heart warming and endearing. It was an adventure that was hard to put down. If you are ready for a wild ride strap on your reading gear and open up the first page… happy reading! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to M.J. Pankey and NetGalley for this ARC copy.

I'm a sucker for some mythology, so of course I was thrilled to see an original tale come out. This has everything you could want. War, betrayal, love, lust. Hoping there is more to come about Gonivein!

My one and only gripe is that the names Gadnor & Dargon are way too similar when reading and your girl kept getting confused.

[Sara Jesus · Rating 4 out of 5]

In an inspired ancient greek island, the world of Helinthia is rich in details of greek gods and with complex characters that have an life full of political intrigue. I especialy enjoy Gandor, Forluna and Gonivein journeys. We have characters that have an special conection with the gods (told to be Oracles), second sons that have visons of furys (and eventually are the true heroes of the story) and nymphs that are in love for the leader of Helinthia but have big secrets that cant share. Also I did love Loric, and was very sad with his ending

small spoiler || I hope Gonivein do not marry the older brother of Gandor, she deservers so much better||

[Brittany - bookmarkedbybritt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! As a lover of Greek re-telling and mythology, I was excited to dig into this story. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that while there were elements of known stories, Epic of Helinthia really had a heart and soul of its own!

As to be expected with any strong fantasy title, there was significant devotion to world-building and establishing the social structures of the world of Helinthia. I felt that there could have been more teaching moments in the early days of the text to help us remember the importance of key titles and symbols, but M.J. Pankey did provide a full and comprehensive glossary of terms to start our journey, so this is a small piece of feedback. Once you had a grasp of the terms, the book moved super quickly, and kept the pages turning!

I found the story to be incredibly well-researched and believable (almost to the level of a historical fiction). The attention to detail and care for the cultural aspects of the story were very evident, and led to a lot of the realistic feel to this fantasy epic.

The best part of all: the characters! Each character was equally important on their own, and as a part of our group of heroes tasked with saving the people of Helinthia, I found all of their struggles to be very “real” and gave us reason to love even the slightly unlikable characters.

To be short and sweet: I thought this was a great first instalment to what will be a fantastic series!

Thank you to NetGalley, Muse and Quill Press, and M.J. Pankey for access to this ARC for a fair and honest review.

[L'encre de la magie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 🌟
Avis Lecture 🧐 📖 "Epic of Helinthia", M.J. Pankey 🧿🇬🇷 @authormjpankey
Sortie le 1er octobre 2023
Je remercie @netgalley pour l'envoi de ce Service Presse 🙏

"Helinthia will not abandon us"
L'île d'Helinthia sombre dans le chaos depuis qu'un tyrant s'est emparé du trône. Les dieux, silencieux, ne sont pas intervenus, alors Dargon, Kelric et Gadnor décident de fomenter une rébellion. Ils vont devoir gagner des alliances afin de mener la guerre à venir. Gonivein, la sœur de Dargon est restée en arrière à l'abri des murs de Shallinath, mais les espions sont partout et l'ennemi est peut être déjà dans la cité...
Alors que se joue l'avenir d'une nation, des découvertes viennent bouleverser les esprits... Et si les dieux de l'Olympe ne souhaitaient pas qu'Helinthia se relève ?

Voilà une belle lecture, parfaite pour mon mood de l'été et forcément les vacances en Crète. 🤗
Pankey nous plonge dans un univers inspiré de la Grèce Antique, rempli d'actions et de trahisons.
J'ai trouvé la présence du Dramatis Personae et du glossaire au début, très bienvenue, voir essentielle !! 🤩 L'autrice utilise des termes grecs concernant la place hiérarchique des personnages, les objets, les lieux également, faisant référence aussi bien aux cités qu'à des sites inspirés des mythes anciens... Sans ça, je pense que j'aurais été en difficulté surtout concernant tous les termes d'ordre hiérarchique.

Toutes ces références nous plongent facilement dans l'atmosphère du récit.
Et en passant, l'autrice choisi de faire de l'Olympe un palais, placé au sommet du Mont Ida, en Crète (où je suis actuellement) 🤩 ; la montagne qui a vu naître Zeus, quand sa mère Rhéa a fuit Chronos.

J'ai malgré tout eu un peu de mal à discerner qui était qui au début de ma lecture. Peut être m'a t il manqué un peu d'introspection justement pour m'aider dans les premiers chapitres. Ceci dit, le début du récit pose bien le cadre de l'intrigue et le final est assez intense.
C'est un premier roman bourré d'actions que nous propose l'autrice 🤩. Je me demande ce qu'elle nous prévoit pour le tome 2 ! 😀 J'espère avoir l'occasion de m'attacher plus à certains personnages 🤗

English ⬇️
Review 🧐 📖 "Epic of Helinthia", M.J. Pankey 🧿🇬🇷 @authormjpankey
Released October 1, 2023
I thank @netgalley for sending this Press Service 🙏

"Helinthia will not abandon us"
The island of Helinthia has descended into chaos since a tyrant seized the throne. The gods, silent, did not intervene, so Dargon, Kelric and Gadnor decide to foment a rebellion. They will have to win alliances in order to fight the coming war. Gonivein, Dargon's sister has stayed behind behind the walls of Shallinath, but the spies are everywhere and the enemy may already be in the city...
While the future of a nation is at stake, discoveries come to upset the spirits... What if the gods of Olympus do not want Helinthia to rise again?

This is a great read, perfect for my summer mood and necessarily the holidays in Crete. 🤗
Pankey immerses us in a universe inspired by Ancient Greece, filled with action and betrayal.
I found the presence of the Dramatis Personae and the glossary at the beginning very welcome, even essential!! 🤩 The author uses Greek terms concerning the hierarchical place of characters, objects, places as well, referring both to cities and to sites inspired by ancient myths... Without that, I think I would have been in difficulty especially concerning all the terms of hierarchical order.

All these references easily plunge us into the atmosphere of the story.
And by the way, the author chose to make Olympus a palace, placed at the top of Mount Ida, in Crete (where I am currently) 🤩; the mountain where Zeus was born, when his mother Rhea fled Chronos.

I still had a little trouble discerning who was who at the beginning of my reading. Maybe I lacked a bit of introspection precisely to help me in the first chapters. That said, the beginning of the story sets the framework for the plot and the end is quite intense.
This is a first novel full of actions that the author offers us 🤩. I wonder what she plans for volume 2! 😀 I hope to have the opportunity to get more attached to certain characters 🤗

[Liat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book appealed to me on so many levels. The cover art is beautiful and I love stories which are centred around Greek mythology.

Epic of Helinthia is the first book in a series by M.J. Pankey set on the Greek, fictional island of Helinthia. When a madman steals the throne, outer villages are faced with famine and unrest and the gods are nowhere to be found.

Dargos, one of the village leaders, is hoping to stage a rebellion in order to gain favour with the gods and restore Helinthia to its former glory. When Dargos leaves home with a few allies to rally support for war, disaster and devastation follows.

In each chapter we hear from one of the main characters and learn a little more about the history of Helinthia and the home they are trying to save. The characters are built with an incredible amount of depth which allows us as the reader to understand what they’re going through and the choices they are making along the way.

I really enjoyed this book. It is beautifully written and reads very easily. The suspense at the end of each chapter makes it easy to keep reading and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Muse and Quill Press and M.J. Pankey for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[toke. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Now let’s get into it, shall we?

The plot is one of rebellion and war, of restoring the rightful order to the island of Helinthia in hopes that it will cure the island, of gods watching and playing with mortals. It is a story with an array of characters. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about almost all of them.

Forluna had my heart from the first page. I was delighted to see her reappearance in the story and what an interesting story she comes with. Dargos, I am quite fond of the stoic types and he definitely falls into that category however it is refreshing that the author allowed us to see moments where he wasn't so stoic. Gonivein's development was a delight, I started off not particularly caring for her story and as it went on, as she faced hardships and grief, I found myself really caring about her. I would have most definitely liked to see chapters in Loric's perspective, from what we got to know about him he seems interesting. Gadnor is my baby boy, there's something about quiet reserved characters that make me want to protect them but seeing him go from a quiet reserved boy to a confident brave man was one of my favourite parts of the novel. I didn't really care for Kelric and whenever his chapters came around, I only read them for the sake of gleaning more information about Gadnor. I don't see the importance of him, the other characters bring more to the table than he does. I grew bored of him very quickly.

Of course I'm going to mention romance, I don't like heavy romance and this novel gave me the correct amount of romance. I found myself enjoying the romance, it was more like moments of romance instead of totally in your face kind of romance and I'm here for all of it. It is tragic when I find myself enjoying romance and the romance dies… That's all I'm gonna say because I'm trying to stay spoiler free as possible.

As a fan of Greek mythology, I liked this novel a lot and I will be (im)patiently waiting on the release of the next one. The story is only going to become more exciting and epic, I look forward to reading it.

[Monserrat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mj Pankey’s Epic of Helinthia is the fast paced and daring first book of a series taking place on the island of Helinthia. When famine struck harder and harder ever since anex Charixes rise to the throne, A few brave souls set out to put an end to his reign and ensure the survival of the people. They are faced with many obstacles and truths that each of them end up having to face in order to see their mission through. When the truth starts Revealing itself they all have to work together in order to insure their victory.

I must admit it took me a while to get into the rhythm of the story but as the story developed and I got to know the world and the characters I was greatly entranced into the world of Helinthia. I am in awe at the way that Pankey was able to portray her characters emotions and personalities and the way that they developed as the story went on. It was great to see the changes that each character went through as the story progressed as I felt that it gives them a layer of humanity that the readers can relate to.

Helinthia is a fictional island inspired by Greek titles and ranks and I could really see the connections between the real tales to Pankey’s own fictional world. One of my favorite thing about the book from the start would definitely have to be the Glossary that is provided for the readers to better understand the world and I can say that it definitely helps understand and makes a smooth introduction into the world. I would also say that it is highly important to read the content warnings beforehand as some scenes can be really heavy and descriptive.

I would also say that I loved the way that the gods were portrayed and how close of a connection they had to the character and can only hope to see more of them in the later books. I also really loved the sense of mystery the story had as it kept me wondering what would happen next and I was pleasantly shocked when everything revealed itself as I wasn’t expecting any of it.

Prankey really knows how to write a story that will keep her audience engaged from the very beginning but I do believe that her storytelling strength lie in the way that she is able to create suspense that leaves her audience on the edge of their seat. I would also say that I love the way she wrote her characters with their flaws and how beautifully she is able to portray their emotions and changes that they experience throughout the journey. I honestly can’t wait to see where the story will go in the later books and I am excited to follow along in these characters journey.

[Sian · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Epic of Helinthia’ truly is an epic. Pankey has constructed an intricate world, mixing fantasy, historical reality and mythology to make her story utterly compelling. Within that world there is also an intricately constructed society of leaders, citizens and slaves - I’ll admit I struggled to get my head around the terminology to start with, but I got there eventually! We follow a band of characters as they journey across the island, initially bound for a wedding celebration, in the hope of brokering an alliance to ensure prosperity after years of famine and hardship. But there is threat and treachery around every corner, and soon the group is facing the reality that a rebellion may be their only option. All they have to do to ensure its success is find the heir of Anassa (Queen) Iptys who was lost and presumed dead eighteen years ago. Surely that won’t be too hard?

The island of Helinthia is full to the brim with fully fleshed characters, each of whom plays a part in the narrative as Pankey switches perspectives between Dargon (Basileus of Shallinath), Gonivein (Dargon’s sister, betrothed to Kelric), Kelric (soon-to-be Basileus of Golpathia), Gadnor (Kelric’s brother) and Forluna (a nymph who cared for the elusive son of Iptys). We also get a look in on some of the big guns of Greek Mythology - the gods Artemis and Apollo - the latter of whom revealing to the group that the gods may have had a bigger hand in contributing to Helinthia’s recent misfortune than was first thought.

I really enjoyed Pankey’s writing style - the narrative flowed well even with the switching perspectives, which is no mean feat. Pankey was also admirably unflinching with her description of guts and gore, which is something I’ve noticed other authors shy away from at times - I’m glad she kept it in, as it really added to the visceral nature of the conflict throughout their journey. I am incredibly glad this is going to be a series, because I absolutely need to know what’s going to happen next!

[Thank you to Netgalley and MJ Pankey for the eARC in exchange for an honest review]

[Bookish Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is set in Helinthia, an ancient Greek inspired island whose citizens are embroiled in political and social turmoil. Determined to appease the island's goddess, Helinthia, and end all of the misfortune plaguing the people on the island, Dargos, ruler of the Helinthian city Shallinath, and his companions, set out to request aid for his cause. Meanwhile, Dargos's sister strives to lead their city in his absence and finds herself immersed in conflict. All of the characters soon find themselves making choices and traveling paths they least expected.

I liked that Pankey blends familiar elements of Greek mythologies and characters with new epic Greek characters and storytelling. You can tell they conducted a lot of research. This is seen in different ways, but one of my favorite examples is the presence of xenia (hospitality) in the novel. Xenia was an important ancient Greek custom and is emphasized in ancient Greek epics such as The Odyssey. I liked that it was utilized in the novel.

The plot development and pacing are consistent, and the characterization is nice for the most part. I do have mixed feelings regarding the female characters, Forluna and Gonivein, as they are written as if they will break free from the chains of men, but ultimately both were passive characters within the story. This may be to set up their character arcs for the series, but it was a tad frustrating as the male characters were all much more active participants in their own choices.

Overall, I liked this story. I think this book is perfect for lovers of epic stories with ancient Greek influences.

Thank you to MJ Pankey, Muse and Quill Press, and NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.