Thank you Netgalley and Muse and Quill Press for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

"Epic of Helinthia" by Mj Pankey follows the people of Helinthia after the gods abandoned them when a madman took the throne.

I would give "Epic of Helinthia" by Mj Pankey a 3- star review because, the concept was interesting, I really liked the characters and plot and how real it felt for a retelling but for me I just didn't love this one.

Published 1st October 2023. This is not your typical Greek myth re-telling. This is more epic fantasy set against a backdrop of Greek mythology with heroes, villains, gods and goddesses. The author gives us the fictional island of Helinthia, an island ruled by a fictional goddess, Helinthia. Here comes the world building with places and ranks in society all very well mapped out. There is a glossary of terms at the beginning which is helpful. Since the anax, Charixes, seized the throne, the island has been beset by famine and so there is a plan to end his reign. This book - the first in a trilogy - has a revolving POV - it reminded me of the format of the Game of Thrones series - with five characters. Our first POV is Dargon who is the basileus of his city state and who is the person who aims to lead the rebellion. His younger sister, Gonivein, - our second POV - comes across rather shallow and not as responsible as the person below Dargon in status should be. She is too enamoured of Kelric - our third POV - who is the eldest son of the basileus of another city state. He is unlikeable and I have yet to find one redeeming feature. He constantly belittles his younger brother, Gadnor, our fourth POV. These two are supporting Dargon as he tries to win support for his rebellion. The final POV is that of Forluna, a nymph and lover of Dargon. There is a lot of gore and violence in this as battle lines are drawn and our main characters are separated. There are also appearances by gods and goddesses. I can see that this is going to be a series that will appeal to readers who enjoy fantasy sagas, and the idea of setting it in ancient Greece and including the mythology is original. The twists and the hook to draw you to the next book are well worked. For me, I didn't really enjoy some of the characters. Dargon seemed very 'cardboard cutout' and his sister Gonivein was too wrapped up in herself to consider how her actions would impact others. Kelric is a bully and Gadnor - he has the potential to maybe surprise but here is too 'shy', too afraid of saying or doing anything in case he makes a fool of himself. Forluna I did like and the doulos, Loric, I loved his devotion. The story-telling is good but there are one or two phrases that just jarred and seemed out of place in a fantasy set in ancient times, for example a reference to Forluna's butt!!!!! This has the making of an enjoyable epic fantasy.

I enjoy greek mythology retellings very much. M. J. Pankey’s writting is very unique and she did a very good job of explaining Helinthia story. I also liked that this novel has different point of views. I wasn’t very fond of the setting but overall this is a very good story. Many thanks to NetGalley and Quill Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Loved this story and cannot wait until the sequel. It was not about the gods but the people that worship them and how they must live why trying to to right by them.

I love Greek mythology. All this drama, the gossip simply everything makes for me an amazing sorrow ding for a book. A great one.
But this book wasn’t quite what I wanted it to be. I don’t think that this book was really well planned and/or well written.
It seems to be kind of a mess. A story with characters in it and now we are going to present this as a book.
Not so sure if this book was ready to be published yet.

I'm personally a sucker for anything Greek so this was an obvious choice for me. This is perfect for lovers of Greek Mythology, retellings, tales, and getting lost in words and worlds.

i was provided an arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review. thank you to the publisher, the author and netgalley. all thoughts are my own.

reminder: this is just my personal subjective opinion (rating rounded up)

i love greek mythology and spins on using greek mythology to tell stories, so frankly i wanted to like this one a lot more than i actually did. i cannot put into exact words what did not click for me, as there is much of this book that i objectively enjoyed. i liked the characters. the plot was fine. the writing was fine. the character development was good. i liked the multiple povs as it kept me seeing different perspectives. and yet i had to push myself to finish this one.

actually, i do have an inkling of what it might have been, and that was the pacing, which felt too dragged out during most of the book. the ending came out to abruptly and while i enjoyed the latter part of the story far more than the first as it felt like things were finally happening, the very ending was just - it just stopped. there might be a sequel planned and then i think i would have less of an issue here, but the fact is that i had to push myself to get to the end. which again, with the exception of how this stops, i wanted to keep reading the last part, it kept me turning pages. it was the middle (and a bit before too) that was a problem for me. i don't know, it was just one of those that didn't click with me for whatever reason.

Yet another Greek myths inspired book on the market filled with mediocre Greek myth inspired books...
BUT, this one is actually good!
I did this book in a single sitting. It was fast-paced, exciting, and with a flowing and easily digested prose. And very useful was the glossery of terms for those who aren't too familiar with Greek history or myths.

Set of the fictional island of Helinthia, which was a place truly well researched and written, where the Greek culture and ancient feel to the city was really brought to life. Ever since a tyrant Charixes seized control of the throne, the Gods seem to have abandoned their people as famine sweeps the land. And when I say seized control, be prepared for some pretty brutal scenes. Pankey does not hold punches, nor should she! The stakes are clear in this book, the sense of danger real, and it really serves to drive the characters and their journey forward.
Dargos, the ruler of Shallinath, sets off with his companion Kelric and Gadnor to take down the tyrant and, hopefully, restore the Gods' favour to Helinthia. But the tyrant's spies inform him the city has been left without its protector....
The main POVs move between these 3, Dargon's sister Gonivein who has been left to manage the city, and his love interest Forluna.
The characters...where to start! They are just so....human! All of them have flaws and seemingly deep set in the personality some destructive tendancy!? But honestly, isn't that just the point of a Greek hero?
Dargon is influriatingly indecisive and cares far too much about how others view him and appearing as the strong, stoic leader. I wanted to reach through the page and smack him about the head at times...
Kelric is just irritatingly annoying. He is rude and abrasive and really...everything you'd expect from a stuck up guy engaged to the ruler of the city's sister. He knows he is the worst and doesn't care. And I kinda loved him for it.
Gadnor is....also there! That's about all there is to him for a lot of this book. He is very timid, quiet, viewed as weak, but out of the core trio he shows the most growth as by the end of the book he had begun to fight back and gives the story that underdog rising vibe that everyone loves.
Forluna was a bit of a wet blanket. I really want her to standup for herself, to push back against Dargon's stupidity and uncaring nature, or to slap Kelric when he insults her. I really hope she develops more in the next book.
And finally Gonivein, that name throws me slightly every time. Feels like it was a Arthurian-Greek mash up! But she is another character who needs a good slap. She is the embodiment of spoilt princess. Everthing she did was enfuriating more or less, I cannot wait for her to get a wake up call.

But you know what? Every single one of them has been set up for the potential for superb character growth as this series goes on. Pankey has an opportunity to take these deeply flawed, very real and fleshed out characters, and through fighting and tragedy remould them into something new, something better. And I am fully here for it. You want morally grey character? These guys are so many shades of grey it's like a colourblind rainbow.

I did have a hard time getting into this book. There were several characters that needed to be introduced and a lot of background and world building. It was necessary but did have me struggling. Once I had a good grasp on the characters, I was really able to dive more into the story. The action took off and had me on the edge of my seat several times. With all that was revealed and where the story left off, I will be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series!

If you were captivated by the enchanting world of "Song of Achilles," prepare to be spellbound once again by the epic tale of "Epic of Helinthia." This Greek myth retelling, with a level of interest on par with its predecessor, takes readers on a breathtaking journey through a land consumed by darkness and despair.

From the moment a madman seizes the throne, the gods on Olympus fall silent, leaving the once-prosperous island of Helinthia in a state of decay. Enter Dargon, Kelric, and Gadnor, three unlikely heroes who embark on a daring rebellion against the king, driven by a belief that they can restore prosperity and win the favor of the gods.

But as they rally support for war, they soon discover that not everyone on Olympus wishes for Helinthia's recovery. The trio faces relentless turmoil, encountering terrifying revelations that challenge their very purpose. Amidst the chaos, a character emerges with a dark secret, offering a glimmer of hope for peace, yet demanding a steep price.

The author masterfully weaves together ancient Greek mythology with vivid storytelling, transporting readers to a world of divine intrigue and treacherous landscapes. The characters are richly developed, their motivations and struggles resonating deeply with the reader.

"Epic of Helinthia" is a page-turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat, rooting for the heroes and questioning the intentions of the gods. Prepare yourself for a thrilling adventure that will leave you pondering the sacrifices one must make for the greater good.

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and Muse and Quill for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As soon as I opened The Epic of Helinthia and saw a multi-page glossary followed by a map, I knew I was going to need to put in some work. Thankfully, that work was generally a delight, and I was able to devour the entire story in one sitting, which isn't something I've been able to do very often in the last 10 years.

To start, this certainly wasn't an easy read. That multi-page glossary was a necessary buoy I returned to again and again as I treaded water and tried to keep from drowning under the terminology. My system actually involved reading the ARC itself on my kobo, while having another copy open on my phone to the glossary so that I didn't have to flip back and forth as much. Unfortunately, that meant that the first 20% or so of this story took a while to really click with. This most recent reading was actually my second go at that opening section because I felt like I missed so much the first time around and was frustrated by my lack of understanding. However, once it clicked, it really clicked, and I was able to power through the entire book from start to finish without wanting to put it down.

Part of what made it so enjoyable to read was that the pacing of this book was really well done. There was enough time spent establishing the world and the major players -- and especially the five POV narratives -- that I was actually deeply invested in their stories and their outcomes. Not all of those POV characters were likeable people, but they were distinct voices that fundamentally shaped the overall narrative and wove together well enough that none felt superfluous. I can't stress enough that I really don't come across that sort of balance very often.

It was only in the last 20% or so that I felt like things could have been a little expanded upon, as so much was happening all at once -- new information, life-threatening encounters, dramatic reveals -- that it became a little difficult to keep track of it all and to feel the full emotional weight of everything. However, as this appears to be the first book in a planned series (three or four in total), I am very eager to see where it goes! As an added bonus, the author seems lovely and graciously accepting of reviews of all kinds. I'm excited to see how her writing prowess evolves in further installations since The Epic of Helinthia is a very strong foundation to build on.

Thank you Netgalley and Muse and Quill Press for an ARC copy of this book. The first few chapters were a bit slow. I started to feel this wasn't the right book for me -- but I was completely wrong when I reached a certain part of the book where the plot begins to unfold. So I highly encourage other readers to continue reading if they feel the same whilst reading. This book is filled with a lot of action and plot twists. There's a certain mystery in the plot that kept me guessing and made me feel emersed in the book and its characters. There are various characters throughout the stories and different points of view in each chapter. usually, I would find this overwhelming but Pankey made it work. I felt gravitated towards reading Gonivien and Gadnor's point of view more than the rest.
The story includes certain gods acting as a guide or intervening in the plot. There are a few characters who are oracles for Hera, Helinthia, Apollo, and Artemis. It was fun to guess who was an oracle. Helinthia is considered a young goddess who created a bet against Hera that Helinthias mortals were superior and couldn't be corrupted. Hera thought otherwise. The bet created a chain of events in which Helinthias people had a shift in reign and a multitude of problems arise because of it. Famine and war. So throughout the story, the characters go through a lot of physical and mental anguish on their quest (which I will not spoil). because of this, some of the characters arc's change. There's a lot of character development.
Overall I loved reading this book, and I'm so glad I continued reading! The story ends on a cliffhanger which leaves me wanting more of this series!

"𝙼𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚏 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚍𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚞𝚊𝚜𝚒𝚟𝚎."

First of: Thanks to NetGalley and the author M.J. Pankey for making this book available as an ARC.

Okay, so I started this book and found out it could also be listened to via the NetGalley app. Because of the names, that were very hard to pronounce at some points, I decided to give that a go. However, this is not a book I enjoyed listening to. It is not because of the quality of the story, but about becoming invested in it. I couldn't really remember what I had heard after I put the audiobook down. So, after a few chapters I decided to just read the book, and that made it a lot better. However, the listening part has made it hard to get in the story fast because I kind of missed some things I guess. When after a while I knew how the relationships were connected, the story was easier to understand.

When I finally really got into the book I enjoyed reading it. I love when books have mythology in it and this book is filled with that. The description of the book was very interesting and I think the author has done a great job in painting the picture of the island of Helinthia. The story is about a coup being performed and how to restore peace on the island. But it's much more than just that. There are quite a lot of gods in the story (even so much, that you sometimes don't even know about which one you're reading haha), there are marvellous mythical creatures and ofcourse there's drama, a lot of it. I liked the fact that the oracles seemed to be on an uprising and that the politics were being questioned all the time. I think that shows personality of the characters who question it.

Ofcourse, I understand that in the time period this book takes place, slavery and corruption was a day-to-day thing, but I thought it was so well written out that you could feel the hate against some people who treated the douloi (for example) like crap. I also liked that the female characters became stronger during the story.

It wasn't an easy read, but I quite enjoyed it. You really do have to take your time reading it.

I gave the book 3 stars. As I mentioned, I read this as an ARC, so the book isn't available yet. But if you like stories filled with mythology, this might just be your book and you should mark your calendar: 1st of Octorber 2023, this will be published!

#books #mythology #helinthia #drama #strongcharacters #ARC #mythicalcreatures #gods #goddesses

Okay so, I read basically every book related to Greek mythology that I stumble upon.
And this one is a great addiction to my (hopefully) endless collection.
Smooth writing, very catchy. Would recommend

The ultimatum goal is to create a rebellion against the king, his untrustworthy and unreliable ways of leading the land needs to be abolished. A group is formed to rally up comrades, but like any adventure, they come across trials and mishaps. Lies were created for the sake of hiding an important figure that can change the tide of the politics but now the truth must be revealed to save the entire country.

The story was filled with adventure and fights like a usual greek myth story. Although, we aren’t really certain who the real main hero is, we only had speculations on who the hidden heir is but they do reveal it at the end.

There is definitely a lot of deceit and anger going around the group of characters. The men were also very prideful, not wanting to back down on their beliefs, and casting aside their women’s achievements. The lies they have created just worsened the relationship they had with each other, thus learning to distrust anyone they cross paths with.

It was a really slow start for me, a new world with their own caste system and unique titles. Then the story started picking up near the end, when we’re getting more truths when the past is recalled. I liked the multiple POVs from the characters, how it gives me more than just a glimpse of their take on the current situation.

Trigger warnings are placed at the beginning of the book and I appreciate that. Just to enumerate some, rape, gory death, and violence, so be cautious before diving into this book.

Looking forward to reading the next books in the series especially with the sort of cliffhanger ending.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review below.
It was clear to me from the start that this Greek-inspired book by MJ. Pankey, was something that would have me hooked from the first chapter, and I was correct on all fronts.
I have recently become more of a slower reader compared to other ARC readers these past few months so I was glad that the book had a Glossary section at the beginning of the book to help me remember all the Greek words that was used, that I didn't understand!
When it came to the characters, it also took me a hot second to rap my head around who was who as it didn't seem as clear to me who I was POV I was following, in regards to the characters relationships with each other, during the first few chapters. By the time I had read at the most 10 chapters, I had a good recollection of who was who, and their relationships to each other.
As for their personalities, I found it so interesting how MJ. Pankey could make some of my most disliked characters, extremely interesting and made me want to follow their stories even more!
I am excited about where the sequel to this book series could go and what other books MJ. Pankey could write because she now has an avid book-fan!

A good addition to the growing collection of Greek-inspired modern literature and mythological retellings. It will sell well beside the previous titles we stock in this genre.

4*

I was very excited to receive a copy of this book from NetGalley. I am a HUGE fan of Greek mythology, and this book screamed at me from its blurb to its cover.

And Pankey didn't disappoint. From a cast of vivid and diverse characters to familiar stories twisted on their heads, Pankey creates a fascinating world from start to end.

It should be noted that this is a fictionalised universe created by Pankey and not a direct retelling of Greek mythology, but it is done well and is clearly well-researched. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a rich fantasy world with a mythology baseline.

A fabulous book, thanks to MJ Pankey and Netgalley for the ARC.

I have loved this book, I really can’t recommend it enough, the characters are fantastic and I love the whole Greek Mythology side of fiction books, I don’t want to spoil it for others but if you love this type of genre then I’m 100% sure that you’ll love this onr

I was struggling the whole first part of this book. The world-building kept throwing me around, and I definitely think it would’ve been easier to have a physical copy to flip to the glossary. I also went into this book thinking it was mythology based, but homegirl made her OWN mythology and stories with established concepts. After finally getting a feel for the characters and the world, it was a fun read. Pankey does a great job at character interactions and making you feel like you’re in the moment with the story. Excited to see what’s up next