In the Epic of Helinthia, MJ Pankey brings a vibrant culture to life. Following Dargon, Gadnor, Forluna, Gonivein, and Kelric, Pankey imbues her world with gods, oracles, and rebellions in a fantasy world reminiscent of the works of Homer. Pankey creates a world where the ancient gods are fighting amongst themselves and manipulating the mortals on the island of Helinthia, mirroring the conflict between nobles like Dargon, Kelric, Gonivein, and Gadnor and their king Charixes. Pankey’s characters are tested by mortals and gods alike throughout the novel, and no one is safe from the mortal plane of Helinthia or the gods’ wrath. Pankey’s characters bring the story to life, and the similarities with the Greek epic poems add a level of mythic otherworldliness to the book. Her characters and their relationships grow and evolve over the course of the book as other factors and individuals come to bear on the growing rebellions in Helinthia. Pankey successfully develops Helinthia, the fantastical setting, into its own character with ties to the goddess of the same name, emphasizing the importance of place and setting within the novel. Pankey’s novel is a fantastical epic whose characters shine and grow into their true selves by the final page.

So, I got this book as an ARC and was super excited to read it as I am in a bit of a greek mythology retelling vibe at the moment. You know I only share very honest opinions here, so let's get in what I want to say, keep in mind though that this is just a very personal opinion and very subjective!
Unfortunately the book didn't capture me really and hence i DNFed it at about a third in. I gave it some time, waiting if i might change my mind, but that time never came. I just didn't really warm to the characters, the writing style was not for me and the plot did not intruige me enough to keep going. This is hard to write as I do not want to be mean in any way, yet at the same time I do not want to lie either or just post exclusively the good stuff.
I do think though that this really is a me thing. Objectively speaken the writing style was absolutely fine, i bet a lot of people will enjoy the plot and the characters will probably be liked as well by a lot of people. Objectiveky this is not a bad book! It just didn't work for me. I read a lot of raving reviews from others, so please, just check it out for yourself if the book sounds intruiging to you, and I would love to hear your opinions on it, be they positive or negative 🤗

Btw, just to be clear, I would definitely try something by the author in the future and let him convince me otherwise of our compatibility ❤

The Epic of Helinthia is set in a fictional location within Ancient Greece. It's an immersive epic told from multiple pov and has elements of fantasy, mythology, adventure, heartbreak, intrigue and romance.

I really enjoyed this; there are subtle complexities and turns you don't see coming, building a solid foundation for the sequel.

For me personally, the multiple pov did become a little distracting and I would have preferred it to be limited to key characters (Gonivein, Dargon, Gadnor) hence why I'm giving it a 4/5, but the world building was good and I adored the way the Gods were incorporated.

I'm looking forward to the sequel !

Epic of Helinthia felt extactly like I thought it would - in the best possible way! I really liked how the characters were drawn, especially Gadnor and Kelric, and how none of the cast could get out of their skin to make different decisions than the ones they made. The portrayal of the gods also felt very familiar and somewhat tragic for the humans involved, just like a greek mythology nerd would hope them to be.
I really enjoyed reading this book, but at times I had a bit of trouble with all the names and the characters social standing, it's good that there was a map and a character chart in the beginning. At times I'd wished I could feel for the characters a little more, but it might just be because of the way I related to them that I didn't.

As a huge fan of Greek Mythology I was so excited to read this book. The author wrote a story that felt completely true to the Mythos it comes from and the time period but was an entirely new creation. At first I wasn’t sure I was going to like that but after a very short amount of time invested I was hooked. The idea of a fresh and new story after feeling like I have read everything that exists in 18 different iterations was really refreshing.

The characters were a healthy mix of likeable and I unlikeable which I enjoy since it mirrors life a little better.

The plot was compelling and honestly had me on the edge - I can’t say much else without ruining some of the mystery.

I will say I already preordered my copy :)

Epic of Helinthia started off slow but by the novel's end, I was racing to figure out what would happen to Dargon, Gonivein, Loric, Kelric, Gadnor, and Forluna. I am super pleased to find out that this is only the first book in a 3-4 book series!

I grew to love each of the characters (even Kelric, smh). M.J. Pankey's storytelling abilities are amazing. I didn't know that the goddess Helinthia was not really a Greek goddess until after the novel when I wanted to know more so I looked her up. That's partly on my lack of knowledge regarding Greek mythology, but also due to the believability of her description! The reasoning behind the strife occurring on the island of Helinthia was completely believable (and very typical of Greek gods). I feel like each character grew exponentially by the end of the novel, they really made me root for them and feel for them when things kept going badly. That being said, I am super impressed by M.J. Pankey's writing and thought the plot was incredibly sound and the characters lovable and understandable.

I am really excited to read the second novel in the series. I can't wait to see what else is in store for these characters, especially Gonivein and Gadnor. Epic of Helinthia slid easily into my favorite novels of 2023, and I recommend it to all fans of Greek mythology and fantasy. 5 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review :)

The book was difficult to get into but once the momentum increased it was engaging. The continuation of the series is promising. Landscape description was rich

Oh my!

I had the privilege of being gifted an e-arc of this book before its release in exchange for an honest review (thank you to NetGalley, M.J. Pankey, and Muse and Quill Press)

This book took me on quite the adventure, and as someone who loves reading anything with Greek mythology, this was right down my lane.
This was my first time reading a book which mixed both the classical elements of Greek mythology we all know and love, with a fictional universe created by the author. That made me a bit sceptical at first as I prefer retellings of Greek myths (or so I thought), but once I had read the first 50 pages, it was damn near impossible to put down. This book delivered twists that resulted in many gasps from me (my favourite thing to do while reading), and the change in POVs from the characters throughout the book made them impossible not to adore (at least most of them).

I also have to say that the book description is NOT wrong. If you loved Ariadne by Jennifer Saint and Circe from Madeline Miller or strictly anything with Greek mythology, you HAVE to pick this one up as well!

My only regret is reading this book this early, knowing I will have to wait for ages for the sequel, and I am crossing my fingers in the hope that it will not be too long until the release of the second book, as I will surely devour that one too!

I'm giving this book a 4,5/5 but leaning more towards the 5.

Bottom line: YES!

The Epic of Helinthia by MJ Pankey is a mythological fantasy read that vividly captures the interaction between a Greek society and the Greek Gods while also containing instances of bravery, personal development, romance, and friendship. The historical accuracies of this book demands praise. It heavily draws on ancient Greek and uses real life Historical terms. It is actually a history fiction under the cover of mythological retelling. I really enjoyed Circe by Madeline Miller. So, I thought of giving this book a shot. TBH I don't regret it. The protagonist of the book isn't a God what we see in most mythological fictions. The pacing of the book is interesting. This is a work of fiction. But, kudos to author's excellent writing style and narration that now I believe, Helinthia somewhere exists in real world. I can clearly notice that a good amount of research backs up the plot. The characters are well developed. They have depth having multiple layers. Even if one isn't well aware of different facts of Greek mythology, one can enjoy this read owning to its descriptive nature. Besides, there is a helpful glossary in the beginning of the book. So, it's  definitely a beginner reader friendly read. The prose quality is good. It is actually part of a series and I shall be waiting to pick the next books in the series. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you Netgalley and MJ Pankey for this ARC

3.5/5

Thanks to the author and Muse and Quill Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I ended up enjoying this and am intrigued by what the rest of the series has to offer. It was a solid historical-inspired fantasy and I grew to love a chunk of the characters, especially Loric, Gonivein and Forluna. It took me a while to get into and I think that is because I am very familiar with the Greek world and used to reading historical literature and historical fantasy set in this region/period, so it took a bit of getting used to, to read something set in this same milieu, but with whole new fantasy concepts including locations and deities. I do think this ended up being really fascinating though. I will say that I sometimes found some of the language to be a bit too modern, which took me out of the world a little - words like 'trash' felt very modern and American and seemed a bit out of place. But generally I had a fun time with the story and am intrigued to continue!

‘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!

Gods, omens, and heroism in Ancient Greece

The imagery of MJ Pankey’s writing had me hooked from the first page, but the most impressive elements of this novel are the twisting plot and detailed character development.

The Epic of Helinthia takes place in Ancient Greece and contains many familiar elements of that era in history. But Pankey’s world building makes Helinthia its own memorable landscape with political intrigue and a cultural hierarchy unique to this story. The Epic of Helinthia owns its title with elements that are characteristic of traditional Greek epics: meddling gods, obscure omens, unlikely heroes, betrayal, romance, and rulers battling for control.

The multiple perspectives, switching with each chapter, ensure that no character is left behind in an examination of their motives and the hopes and fears tied their own unique backstory. The alternating point of view keeps the plot moving, and the action really ramps up as conflicts are revealed throughout the story. The climax had me desperate to understand how the pieces all fit together, and the conclusion of the book leads into what’s guaranteed to be an amazing sequel.

My favorite aspect of the novel was the character development - Gonivein and Gadnor, two of the five major players in the story, both underestimated themselves and were often disregarded by their peers. The difficulties they faced brought both of them to terms with their destinies, and helped them see that strength honor often go hand in hand with integrity and compassion.

I am so grateful that I was able to read this book and leave my honest review on Netgalley - this was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time and kept me engaged from start to finish. I can’t wait to see what comes next from author MJ Pankey!

Thank you to NetGalley and Muse and Quill Press for the ARC of this novel. I am a big fan of mythology and really had high hopes for a new kind of myth to be told. For me, this was a book made for skimming. The text did not pull me in where I needed to read every word and the characters were not appealing. I did skim through the entirety because I wanted to know what would happen and how each character fit together but not a need to really get inside of the characters' feelings or motivations. I see this is going to be a series but I personally can get away with a synopsis of events without reading.

Thank you for netgalley for the advanced reading copy of elic of Helinthia. Epic of Helinthia was just that an absolute epic. Their island on the brink of war from a usurper to the throne once ruled over by apollo's heirs. The unlikely group of people have to make their way through constant hardships all over the island. The unlikely few who become friends and the closest betrayals to save their island from falling into complete ruin by finding the true heir and restoring peace.
This was fantastic, I loved it so much more than I could have hoped. It was lengthy to be honest but it made it worth it. The suspense the author wrote in, the betrayals thrown about. The absolute biggest twists and turns, the ending not what I expected of course because that came out of left field I had no way to guess untill maybe 75% of the way through. Just wow. As soon as I always thought all hope was lost all the sudden one thing makes it better and the unlikely band has hope, until it's torn down again of course. Absolutely fantastic and I cannot wait for this release!

I devoured this book couldn't put it down. I may of stayed up way to late because I was completely hooked and just had to keep reading I absolutely loved it

Epic of Helinthia by MJ Pankey is a thrilling tale set in a world of gods and mortals. The author has put in lots of work creating a world within Ancient Greek that does not rely on Greek retellings. The plot is well-crafted and keeps the reader engaged until the very end. Overall, this is a perfect read for those who have read Circe, Percy, Jackson, and other Greek retellings that would like a new and interesting take on Ancient Greece.

Thank you to MJ Pankey and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book caught my eye due to its cover and title. Both call to Ancient Greek mythology and had me very interested. This book did not disappoint this lover of Greek mythology and delivered with the beginnings of an epic adventure battling an evil anax, restoring the rightful heir, all coupled with interactions with Greek gods and oracles! I’m going to try to add some thoughts without spoiling!

The story starts off slow with lots of world building and character introductions. Each chapter is told from a main character’s point of view which adds to the depth of the story. The characters are very well written and well rounded with flaws. Some characters are more likable (Loric) than others who bully (Kelric). The character’ interactions with one another are also dialogued well and includes inner thoughts of the POV character. There is a lot of character development and growth going on especially with Gonivein!! Her storyline was my absolute favorite and the most heartbreaking for this first installment. I hope she gets a happy ending by the end of this trilogy!

The plot is also really interesting when you finally absorb all the information obtained from world and character building. You get a sense of what is really going on and the pace quickens too. If you like mystery, assassination attempts, rebellion plans, divine interventions, and murder… then this book is for you. There is also a sprinkle of romance and heartbreak. All in all this is a ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ read for me. I couldn’t put it down last night until I finished and found out what was happening to Gonivein!

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.

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.

Epic of Helinthia by MJ Pankey
Publication Date 1st October 2023

I loved this story that reads like two of my favourite genres - an epic blend of fantasy and Greek Mythology.

There's a lot of stage setting and world building at the beginning of the story, and a fair few characters to meet. However, once aquantinted with the people of Helinthia, the story becomes completely absorbing and thunders along at a rapid pace - it is certainly deserving of its title of Epic!

King Charixe has upsurped the throne and the Island of Helinthia is falling victim to drought, withering away. The Gods seem to have abandoned the island to its fate. There are four cities and Dargon of Shallianth is convinced in order to regain the favour of the Gods and restore Helinthia to its former glory, he needs to wage a war with Thellshun and Golpathia against Charixe who is residing in Ninenain and reclaim the throne. He garners the support of Kelric and Gadnor and thus follows a mighty action packed adventure.

Each chapter is narrated by a separate character, and their personalities shine through. I have to give special mentions to Fornula, Gonivein, Gadnor and Loric as they were my favourite characters. I adored Fornula the nymph, and the descriptions of the forest of shades were lush and beautiful. We watch Gonivein mature and grow from a pampered princess to a mature and fierce woman. It was a pleasure witnessing Gadnor devlop from a self conscious boy to a brave and respected man and prove himself. I fell a little in love with Loric, loyal and brave until the end.

I also particularly loved the chapters where Artemis and the fury made an appearance - the harmony between the real Gods and MJ Pankeys imagining is seamless.

There's everything you could want in this story - romance, coming of age, battles, deception, grief, love, mystery, magic adventure and plot twists. I love when all the pieces start to come together and you get that "ahhhh" moment.

Part one of a trilogy, I can't wait for the next installment and be transported back to Helinthia!

Thank you to Netgalley and Muse and Quill Press for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.