Thank you to NetGalley and M.J. Pankey for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.
At first all the names were a little overwhelming but after a few chapters, I got the hang of everything and it was essential for world building purposes.
I loved everything about this. I am a lover of Greek mythology and I just could not put this down once I was about a third of the way through. I'm so excited to hear it's part of a series to be released. Every character was wonderful and so well thought out; there was no person who bored me, except maybe Dargon who seemed more like glue to link everyone else together.
In conclusion:
Cover = beautiful
Plot = incredible and fast paced
Characters = immaculate
I am one of those people who try to guess the ending and this book really took me by surprise on multiple occasions.
One of my top reads of the year so far.

An interesting if slightly heavy handed fantasy of Ancient Greece. I had a bit of trouble following who the characters were and how they moved the story along.

Narrators:
Dargon, sort of lord/owner of a town
Gonivein, his sister
Loric and crusates are her guards
Kelric, cocky dude, engaged to gonivein, brother to Gadnor
Gadnor, brother of Kelric, timid dude
The glossary of words at the start was very helpful.

Firstly Gadnor and Dargon are way too similar and are both anagrams of Dragon, and I kept confusing them.
Besides Gadnor, the other narrators are unlikeable and drone on.
I understand that with a Greek mythical retelling one wants to keep with a bit of historical fiction, but the amount of sexual absuse was unnecessary. Also the traditional man/female roles are very much inforced here, and changing that would have been more interesting.
I mostly kept reading because I wanted to know what happens next, but unfortunately the pacing felt a little off, and the story had very few unique elements.

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 is 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.

I quite enjoyed this book but I am not surprised since I tend to love anything Greek mythology related. I thought the pacing of the book was good since I was kept engaged throughout as a reader. The book kept me on my toes with changes in the plot which I liked. The world and scene building was really well done and I am looking forward to seeing what happens in the second story. This is a book I would recommend reading to those who like Greek fantasy books!

M. J. Pankey’s debut novel (and the first of a series) lives up to its name: this story of capricious gods who hold the frail lives of mortals in their divine hands is indeed EPIC. We follow five characters, caring for their humanly concerns and wondering what will happen to them on the island of Helinthia. Throw in a nymph, some Furies, the search for a lost heir, and a pack of lions (oh my!), and you have yourself quite the political, yet mythological, tale. I enjoyed this book (and I loved Gadnor the most), and eagerly await the next installment.

The Epic of Helinthia was an excellent story. I’ve always liked the myths and their reinterpretations, and books with the gods and goddesses in the plot were my real go-to when I didn’t know what I may read next.

With just one look at the cover of this story and I knew I would like it. And I did after all. The beginning was quite confusing but as the story went on it grew more sense. I liked how the characters' lives were entangled with the gods. Also, the fact of different POVs was a really good idea ‘cause it gave a full view of the situation.

After all the Epic of Helinthia will be a good story for those who like historical fiction set in almost ancient Greece times and are fond of Greek mythology.

Rating: 4/5

Thank you MJ Pankey, Muse & Quill, and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My honest rating of the Epic of Helinthia would be 4.5 of 5 stars, rounded up to 5 on Goodreads (they don't do halvsies). The Epic of Helinthia is the first of what promises to be an adventurous romp through an original historical fantasy series (it better be a series with that cliffhanger!)

By the end I was hooked, I knew I was running out of pages, and everything was going to Hades in a hand basket. I actually said the words out loud: "why did I do this to myself? This is obviously the first in a potential series, and the first book isn't even out yet in print, so I'm going to have a very long wait to figure out how this ends up going."

Overall, the good things were what counted about this book, and how it left me feeling after I was done with it. It was quite the adventure.

I liked:
- the characterization was excellent, most of the characters were very flawed and very human (sometimes annoyingly so to where you wanted to yell at some of them). Characters visibly grew as people.
-the attention to detail that really brought this ancient world alive - it wasn't overdone, but it was enough to keep it interesting and keep me in the moment and not wondering what the characters' surroundings looked like.
-the beginning (not including the action-packed prologue) seemed a bit slow, but then I found out it was going to be a series and appreciated the set-up in later parts
- it had a very clear arc and once it got going it was a ride!

The only things I didn't like are quite nitpicky from a reader/writer stance.
- the Dragon/Gadnor foil situation - the fact that their names contain the exact same letters just in a different order was a bit confusing at the beginning before their personalities came out more, and kind of seemed a little heavy on the subtext as I got more into the story.
-the kyrios/Kyria thing, while it may have served a good point to bring the theme of social status and inequality into play, was a little overused in my opinion.

A beautifully written Greek mythology which, in a twist, is totally unique. I found this to be a really immersive story and I was totally absorbed into each characters POV's, especially as you get to see a lot of character development which makes most of them a lot more likeable. There's also loads of twists and suspense which are really hooking after a bit of a slow start. I do have to say I wish Gods and Goddesses had a heavier role to play in this, but this is a personal opinion as I like that in the Greek mythology I read. However apart from that I have nothing bad to say everything was amazing and I would recommend.

My review is written based on an Advanced Copy with NetGalley. The spic of Helinthia is a unique story rich with Greek mythology. Unlike most of the Greek novels I have read, this epic only lightly focuses on the Gods and Goddesses, though their presence is felt throughout the story. Pankey does a lovely job of bringing to live a true epic tale full of love, battle, and renown for the various heroes and heroine. The main focus jumps between multiple characters, developing each along the way, gaining the investment of the reader. While the novel had a slower start, once it hit the main action it became an absolute page-turner. I felt fully immersed in the islands Pankey has created and the war of the meddling Greek Gods. The ending leaves an opening for more tales with these characters, which is exciting to know we might see more! I eagerly await for this beautiful book to release in print to add to my collection.

Thank you to M.J. Pankey, Victory Editing and NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

"If there’s one thing I’ve learned about men, it’s that they require very little to justify unbridled violence."

It was epic ! So many plot twists. I thought I had found the key plot early on but in the end the author managed to surprise me, mouth open, several times.

The universe building is, although a bit long in the first chapters, necessary and well written. Thank you for including the lexicon, hierarchy and map on the first few pages.
The only "negative" point I found : the characters. None of them are particularly lovable, except for Gadnor and Tor, who arrive late in the story. The character development is well done and thank goodness it happens because I would have been rolling my eyes with each pov change. All of the characters are unsympathetic at one point or another and whenever I thought a character had matured well enough, he would do or say something that made me want to strangle him.

Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed my reading and would recommend this book to any mythology fan looking for a fresh story with new gods and goddesses, such as Helinthia.
I'm happy to say that I will read the next books (maybe ARCs ?), with pleasure !

Thank you to the publishers - Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op - for giving me access to this book as an E-ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This review will be posted on Goodreads on April 26th 2023.

I tend to love books containing themes of Greek mythology. It has always been a great interest of mine, and I thought this book would be right up my alley when I read the summary. A rebellion against a tyrant, silent gods and so on. Sounded great! The summary had all the elements that I usually enjoy in books in a mythical ancient Greece-setting.

I did not get invested in either the story or its characters. I thought it was too many main characters. At times I had to reread whole chapters to figure out who was who which took away a lot of the experience from me. I’m guessing that to me all the main characters had the same type of “voice” and therefore I personally had a hard time to differentiate between them. The prologue and the first few chapters were great, engaging, and interesting but as the story progressed, I got more and more bored and cared less and less.

Something I’m sad to say bothered me throughout the book was that the main characters didn’t really have Greek sounding names (ancient or modern) which took away quite a lot from the story and its setting in this Greek world. Maybe the names of the characters were intentional to show the vastness of a Hellenistic world and its mix of different cultures, but it didn’t work for me. Some of the names put me firmly in fantasy videogame-territory. Maybe it would have been better to set the story in its own world instead of a mythical ancient Greece-setting.

As I didn't connect with any of the characters the story didn't really matter to me. I finished the book only because I like to finish things, especially if I’ve been granted a chance to read a book before it’s published, but that's about it. Engaging start and then, unfortunately, downhill for me. You can’t enjoy everything, and I'm happy that this book has found its audience in other people but sad that it wasn’t for me.

First of all, wow. This started out slow but like all good fiction you have to roll with it. These characters are complex and simply human. I went back and forth on who I hated or loved and it resonated all the more deeply for that. Not to mention the mystery? The suspense? Murder?? This was a brilliant start to the series.

Thank you to Netgalley, MJ Pankey and Victory Editing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Although Epic of Helinthia strives to be historically authentic in terms of its writing style, it is not a monotonous read. Several points of view are covered, dialogue is engaging, character development is beautifully written, and the glossary and world map are incredibly valuable. It was an enjoyable surprise to see that this was not a story retold, but a story created by the author.

I had trouble settling into this novel because I went back and forth to find out who was who in the beginning. However, once I understood who each character was and how they fitted into the narrative, I enjoyed reading seeing how it unfolded.

Also, the cover is so lovely and would be a great addition to anyone's bookshelf!

I'm looking forward to reading more!

Thank you to NetGalley, M.J. Pankey and the publishers for letting me read an arc of this book before its release.

What a stunning book! I honestly loved everything about it.
What first attracted me to this book when I saw it was its title and cover. I'm a sucker for Greek mythology and I immediately wanted to know more. I expected a retelling and honestly didn't think I'd be that impressed because, let's be real, it's almost impossible to write something new when it comes to men and gods. But oh boy, was I wrong!

Although a fantasy book, it is so well researched that it feels very real and authentic. There is a lot of attention to detail and historical accuracy woven together with the classic legends and supernatural, creating a very raw and palpable world set in ancient Greece.
The characters are very well developed and fit right into the story. I loved how the point of view changed from character to character with every chapter and how we get to see the world through everyone's eyes. No one is inherently good or bad, something which I have come to dislike in recent years after reading dozens of books about 'perfect' main characters who are all-powerful and never wrong. Just like in real life, everyone has their own unique personality and view of the world, which was beautifully crafted into the story progression.

The writing was beautiful too; the right amount of everything, in my opinion - description, action, world and character development, even a bit of romance. The story felt new to me and it sucked me right in; I didn't want to put this book down for a minute!
About three-quarters in, I thought I had figured out everything that was happening, but I was not prepared for that ending! I can't wait to see what's next for these characters and how the story will unfold further.

If I have to find a flaw about it, it would be that it relies a lot on the glossary at the beginning of the book. Although very nice to have and definitely a plus to the reading experience as you don't need pages-long descriptions and introductions, it was a bit difficult to remember every single thing listed. I had to switch back and forth to it to read again some definition of some object or person to make the story make sense. However, after reading about a third of the book, I felt I was familiar enough with everything and everyone and there was no need to go back to the glossary so often. I am sure this will be a non-issue with a hardcopy or with the final e-book version.

Historical novel set in ancient Greece where the characters are involved in an epic journey in an attempt to save Helinthia from a tyrant king.
The book begins at a leisurely pace to introduce the characters and the situation that is lived to pick up pace as the plot progresses which makes the reading very fluid.
The characters, some more sympathetic than others, are interesting and we can see how they change and develop during their journey.
The plot is intriguing with twists and turns that sometimes you see coming and sometimes surprise you but that will certainly grab you.
Overall a book recommended to lovers of mythology. It only remains for me to say that I am waiting for the sequel with great interest.

Long, clunky, and filled with Greek worldbuilding that I'd have loved, if I felt it was done well. This is the sort of book I struggle to review for, because my overall feelings are very "meh". Meh characters, meh story, meh worldbuilding. The prose felt lifeless at best and clunky at worst. With alternating POVs, I felt I would become invested in one, then before I could start enjoying it properly, it switch to another--and my thought process would repeat itself.

Anything to do with Ancient Greece or Greek mythology and I run right for it! I was pleasantly surprised that this was not a retelling but an original story. I loved the world building and the clear research that was put into making this book happen. It was slow at times but still engaging and enjoyable. I liked that I was surprised by the ending and it wasn’t what I predicted at all. Looking forward to a second book!

I received this ARC from the publisher and author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I almost regret reading this right away because now I’m going to have to wait for the rest of the books to be written. This is one of those books that I have a feeling will be better read as a whole since there’s a lot of moving parts.

It took me awhile to settle into this novel, since I chose to for go flipping back and forth to see who was who in the beginning of the book. However, once I got all that figured out, the story read like a dream.

I loved how the author chose to incorporate the gods since it added an element of mystery. The storyline was very quick paced, action packed, and I love how the storylines came together. The characters were fantastic as well. Gonevein, Kelric and Gadnor were the ones spotlighted in this novel and there was so much growth here. MJ Pankey succeeded in making the heroes more heroic and the villain more dislike le. There’s definitely lots of room for more development to be done but I have a feeling we’ll see that over the course of the other books.

I can’t wait to see where this goes next. Please write quickly.

Thank you NetGalley, MJ Pankey, and the publishers for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you’re a fan of Madeline Millers Circe, you’re going to want to add this one to your tbr!

While Epic of Helinthia strives to be historically accurate, this is not a boring read. The author gives us multiple point of views, engaging dialogue, beautifully written character development, and an incredibly helpful glossary + world map.

We start this story with an action packed prologue that immediately grabs the readers attention. The prologue is followed by an equally intriguing first chapter, and truthfully my interest never faltered. I think that’s what I liked most about it. Many books take a few chapters to really grab my attention, but not this one.

There is conspiracy, betrayal, gods, oracles, rebellion, royals, politics, and even a sprinkle of romance. All of which is packed into 386 pages of pure fantasy. Truly there is something in this book for everyone and I have no doubt this will go viral on booktok as well as all other platforms.

I’m giving Epic of Helinthia 4/5 stars simply because the overall reading experience was negatively impacted by having to refer to the glossary heavily in the beginning. This was made difficult by reading on a Kindle. I think having a physical copy of this book to annotate and easily flip back and forth between pages would make a huge difference.