"The Epic of Helinthia" by MJ Pankey is an imaginative and intricate fantasy novel that draws heavily on Ancient Greek influences, reminiscent of works by Madeline Miller. The story is set on the fictional island of Helinthia, where a devastating famine exacerbates the already tyrannical rule of Anax Charixes. Pankey's portrayal of this world is both familiar and unique, blending elements of Greek culture with her own creative vision. While the glossary at the beginning aids in understanding the terminology, some readers might find the world-building complex and difficult to visualize fully.

The novel features multiple points of view, allowing readers to delve into the minds and motivations of a diverse cast of characters. Pankey excels at creating nuanced, flawed characters whose actions and choices are driven by their personal beliefs and desires. Gonivein and Gadnor stand out for their development and relatability, whereas Dargos and Kelric are less engaging, appearing somewhat dull in comparison. Despite the initial confusion due to the vast number of characters, Pankey's ability to flesh them out with distinct personalities and growth becomes evident as the story progresses.

The narrative is rich with themes of betrayal, power struggles, and divine intervention. Pankey masterfully portrays the gods as ethereal beings, close yet distant from humanity, adding a layer of mysticism and grandeur to the story. The societal structure, inspired by Ancient Greece, is well thought out, although the names of places and characters occasionally disrupt the immersion due to their non-Greek sound.

Pankey's prose is fluid and varied, making for an engaging read. Her strength lies in creating suspenseful moments, particularly in the final chapters, which are filled with thrilling revelations. The dialogue is well-crafted, adding depth to the characters and their interactions. However, the book's complexity in world-building and the multitude of side characters, like Loric and Crusates, can be overwhelming and hard to keep track of, detracting from the overall experience.

Fans of Greek mythology and literature will appreciate Pankey's detailed research and incorporation of Greek-inspired titles and ranks. The book distinguishes itself from typical Greek mythology retellings by focusing on the setting and character behaviors reflective of the era. The portrayal of gods, the use of period-appropriate lingo, and the exploration of societal issues like racism and misogyny add authenticity to the narrative.

The main characters, while well-developed, may not be particularly likable. Dargon, for instance, is portrayed as indecisive and irritating, more concerned with his image than his actions. Forluna, despite her significant role, lacks the backbone one might expect from her experiences. Kelric is unapologetically arrogant, while Gonivein appears as a spoiled princess whose actions often lead to others' detriment. Gadnor, though timid, shows promise for future development.

Overall, "The Epic of Helinthia" is a compelling read that, despite its occasional shortcomings, offers an intriguing blend of fantasy and Greek mythology. The character flaws and complex world-building may pose challenges for some readers, but Pankey's ability to create suspense and craft meaningful dialogues makes it a worthwhile journey. With unresolved plotlines and potential for further character development, readers will likely be eager for the next installment in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Muse and Quill Press for the ARC.

A complex and thoughtful story about the world of Helinthia.

I cannot get enough retellings of Greek mythology, and this book is only feeding the ever growing flames. Fantastically written, the world comes alive in this new epic story.

@DNF at 30%

As a fan of Greek stories and mythology, I was so happy to get another story about one of my favourite themes. Although the setting is interesting I found myself confused with so many names, characters and many POVs to remember and to get into. I think that was what made me feel the story slow and heavy and lose my interest in the story

One of the biggest letdowns was the big plot points and "twists" felt a bit flat and without much interested in the story.

This was a really good book, I was completely hooked from the first page and stayed up way to maye reading because I couldn't put it down definitely recommend

I absolutely adore alternate histories and rewritten legends. This was an exciting read. I highly recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the early read.

I really enjoyed the pacing of this book. The story builds to an epic conclusion, and I especially loved the twist at the end. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Thank you to Muse and Quill Press and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of this book!

I really really enjoyed this book! The writing just sucked me in completely and immediately. I was a bit lost with the sheer amount of names and titles in the first portion of the book, but that was pretty easy to overlook and I think I had a much better sense of the structure of the society and titles by the end of the book. The multiple POVs made me a bit nervous because I think that's something that's very hard to do well and give enough time for each character to develop and have their own voice, but the author did a great job! I think all the characters had really interesting arcs and development; I especially adored Gonivein's journey throughout the book. She's very important to me and nothing bad better happen to her ever again. I'm really looking forward to her arc in the sequel.

This book started off very fast-paced, and kept that momentum up the entire rest of the book. I'm excited to see what awaits these characters and this world in the sequel!

I really enjoyed reading The Epic of Helinthia by MJ Pankey. It's a fast-paced and adventurous fantasy novel set on a unique, ancient Greek-inspired island. The story follows a group of brave souls who set out to overthrow a cruel tyrant and restore peace to their homeland.

I loved the characters in this book. They were all fleshed out with distinct personalities and motivations. I especially enjoyed Gonivein and Gadnor, whom we see grow into strong, independent characters. I also thought Dargos and Kelric were well-developed characters, even though they weren't my favorites.

The setting of Helinthia was also really interesting. It was clear that Pankey did a lot of research on ancient Greece, and she brought the world to life in a way that was both familiar and exciting. I only wish that there had been a bit more world-building in the beginning of the book, as it took me a little while to get my bearings.

One of my favorite things about The Epic of Helinthia was the dialogue. Pankey has a gift for writing natural and believable conversations between her characters. The dialogue really helped to bring the characters to life and make them feel like real people.

Another thing I loved about this book was the suspense. Pankey did a great job of creating nail-biting moments that kept me on the edge of my seat. I was especially impressed by the final chapters, which were an avalanche of suspense and thrilling revelations.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Epic of Helinthia. It's a well-written fantasy novel with interesting characters, a fascinating setting, and plenty of suspense. I would definitely recommend it to fans of the genre.

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

When I saw this book I said to myself that I really want to read it. And honestly, I was not disappointed. The author wrote a very interesting fantastic book that totally captivated me. I really liked the author's writing style, and the characters were wonderfully created. I heartily recommend the book

When a madman seized the throne, the gods on Olympus fell silent, and the island of Helinthia withered into decay...

Dargon is sure these events are no coincidence and convinces Kelric and Gadnor to join him in a rebellion against the king, hoping to incur favor with the gods and restore prosperity to their ravaged lands. Confident of their purpose, they embark on a journey to rally support for war, leaving Dargon's sister Gonivein safe behind the walls of Shallinath. But the king's spies have been watching, waiting for the right moment to strike and make them an example for their treasonous ideas.

GOD I love mythological retellings and MJ Pankey did not let me down!!
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.

It was exciting reading this book that focused on showing the setting and character behaviors of those who lived in the time of gods. Don't get me wrong, I love a good retelling with fantasy and romance,

Thank you to netgalley for the book in exchange for my review

This is a 5 star read for me, but I can't guarantee it will be for everyone else. I am a sucker for anything Greek mythology themed. This novel was perfect for me due to it including mythical elements, political intrigue, and tons of suspense.

I was constantly wondering what would happen next, and whether anything would be resolved. For a while I could not convince myself to read it due to a reading slump. But over the last 8 hours I finished the book and couldn't put it down until I finished it. I'm very pleased with the progression of the story, and the ending left me so excited for the next book (I mean we can't just leave it like that?!?).

I think something that did bother me though was that the voices of some of the slave characters did not get their own POV in the story. The story switched between telling the story/what is occurring for multiple characters. However, one character that I found important, Loric, never received his own highlight. He was crucial to the survival of a main character, yet due to his status in society we never got to hear from him. We never got his confirmation about how he felt towards Gonivein. I much rather have heard from him than Kelric or Dargon, he had so much more potential for an interesting perspective than those two other male characters though I understand their importance to the plot and story progression. I think the omission of Loric perspective despite his importance, is indicative about how the douloi are seen as livestock or toys instead of people. Part of that angers me, since there is commentary on this, comparing the douloi and nobles to how the gods treat mortals. But god, I just wanted to see into Loric's sweet cinnamon roll mind. He had so much potential.

I loved that we got to see a perspective into Ancient Greek society (or how the author perceives it). It made this novel more interesting to me, because I finally understood the superstitious nature of the Greeks of that time.

This is my honest review. I received this book as a free electronic ARC copy, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine and truthful.

Rating: 4.5 Stars
First off - huge thank you to Muse and Quill Press, NetGalley, and especially M. J. Pankey for letting this be my first ARC review!! All opinions are my own.

Epic of Helinthia
Epic of Helinthia hits almost every category I could want out of a book; historical-inspired fantasy, engaging characters, word glossaries, multiple POVs, eye-catching cover, and a story that kept me gripped throughout.

As an avid lover of history, I get really excited when I see historically influenced fantasy. Even as a fantasy story, there is plenty of evidence within the writing that showed the depth of research that went into capturing the vibes and essence of Ancient Greek societies, especially in the smaller details. One of these I especially liked was the way characters reacted to immortal beings such as Gods and Dryads - the way they hold reverence and fear simultaneously, both seeking and avoiding these beings.

I also grew quite fond of characters that I usually wouldn't care for. I liked Loric, Gonivein and Forluna, and had a huge soft spot for Gadnor. After finishing the final chapter, I was incredibly curious to see how their arcs continue and evolve over the next book. Some of the names did confuse me a little (mainly Dargon and Gadnor, with how similar they are) but I got over that quickly.
There were also plenty of moments where I started formulating my own theories, as well as trying to predict where the story would go. Some of the hints early on made for fantastic payoff at a later date, too!

There wasn't much holding the book back for me. The only thing of note were a few small areas in the middle where I skimmed. Even then, I was very quickly brought back into the action. I hoped for maybe a little more lore/character development/detail within the book, but I was still satisfied with what I read.

Overall, I really enjoyed Epic of Helinthia, and I'm crossing my fingers for a sequel! I hope this series continues, and look forward to more expansions into Helinthia's universe.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley & Muse & Quill Press for the ARC!

4.5/5


I loved this book. Once you understood the terms in the glossary, the boom was extremely easy to follow. I always enjoy a book with changing POVs & it really helped me understand what was going on in Helinthia.

I enjoyed how the gods/goddesses weren’t fully in the story & only appeared to help guide the characters in the story.

There were so many twists & honestly I didn’t guess who the heir was because Pankey did an amazing job at making me think it was one person but then kept adding on additional details that made me think it was someone else.

I cannot wait for the rest of the series, it’ll be immediate buys from me!!

ARC REVIEW - MILD SPOILERS

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/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.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eArc of this book.

So I gave this book 2 stars and I’m still contemplating whether it’s maybe 3 stars. I didn’t enjoy this book too much sadly.

The characters are very well thought out and distinct from each other even though there are quite a lot. Unfortunately that was part of my problem. There were too many POVs and with every chapter there being a new one it kept pulling me out of the story.

The plot was also very interesting and good, but it didn’t keep my attention for too long. It took me too long to pick the book back up just because I wasn’t invested. The major plot points fell flat for me.

I would still recommend this book. I don’t think it’s for everybody and you do need to be more interested into the background storyline than what’s actually currently happening. I’m sad that I didn’t enjoy this book.

4.5 stars This Epic was epic in its first of the series. I went into this thinking it would be more mythology focused but it was more human and politically driven. It is hard not to keep going as you get pulled into the story and want to know what will happen next. While the gods do make appearances here and there, it is written as if one is apart of the humanity that needs to believe in them for them to appear. I will look forward to reading the next in this series and following along with the characters.

A Captivating Journey through Myth and Betrayal;

"Epic of Helinthia" surprises with its plot twists and betrayals, offering a refreshing take on mythology. Set in a decaying land silenced by the gods, Dargon, Kelric, and Gadnor rebel against a mad king to restore prosperity. Amidst spies and chaos, they uncover a dark secret that challenges their hopes for peace. This original epic fantasy brings Greek mythology to life, immersing readers in a vivid world of danger and deception. While pacing and character arcs could be further developed, the book's captivating narrative keeps you engaged until the unforgettable climax. A must-read for fans of mythology and adventure.

"Epic of Helinthia" is a captivating book that surprises readers with its intricate plot twists and betrayals, offering a refreshing and unique take on mythology. Set in a decaying land where the gods' silence reigns, the story follows Dargon, Kelric, Forluna, Gonivein and Gadnor as they rebel against a mad king in a quest to restore prosperity and reclaim the favor of Olympus.

The strength of this book lies in its ability to breathe new life into well-known mythological elements, presenting a fresh narrative that deviates from the usual mythology retellings. Author MJ Pankey skillfully immerses readers in a mythological environment, capturing the essence of Greek mythology while infusing it with originality and an imaginative touch.

The plot swiftly unfolds as the trio embarks on a dangerous journey, leaving Dargon's sister, Gonivein, safely behind. As they traverse through a world rife with spies and turmoil, the story unravels with suspense and gripping revelations. The carefully crafted plot twists keep readers engaged, constantly surprising them and fostering a sense of anticipation for what lies ahead.

While it captivates readers, there are few instances where the pacing feels hurried, and a few areas could have benefited from more elaboration. However, these minor shortcomings do not overshadow the overall quality of the book. The compelling narrative, filled with danger, deception, and mythical wonders, keeps readers engrossed until the climactic end.

In summary, "Epic of Helinthia" is a captivating journey through a mythological world of surprises and betrayals. With its fresh approach to Greek mythology, intriguing plot twists, and well-crafted characters, it offers a delightful reading experience. Fans of mythology and epic fantasy will find themselves transported to the enchanting island of Helinthia, eagerly following Dargon and his companions as they navigate treacherous paths in their quest for peace and justice. Hope more people will get to read this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author, M.J. Pankey for letting me read my very first arc/ NetGalley read!

If you are a fan of Greek mythology, this book is for you! I very much enjoyed the fast pace and the change of character POVs. The author has created an amazing world with a story full of love, hate l, laughter, and everything in between. Can't wait to see what comes next!

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 realised that Gadnor and Dargon were two separate characters, 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 epicband will be picking up the next installment.

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