A complex web of conspiracy and betrayal set in fantastical Ancient Greece. Very quickly, the characters become real people that I get to dive into deeper through internal discovery of their emotional and motivational landscapes and yet that still doesn't give anything away as to what is going to happen next. I found myself constantly delighted with each new development, rooting for the characters towards their survival and success. Atmospheric, cinematic, I quickly came to trust and find comfort in the narrator's distinguished writing style. Just a touch of that Greek fantasy, visions of mystical beasts and beings, makes the world and the fantasy seem so real and more present and encompassing than any Homeric hymn I've been able to get my hands on.

As satisfying as that last puzzle piece fitting perfectly. By the end, I was inextricably wrapped up in these characters' lives and their complex web of people and gods to keep happy, conspiracy, loyalty and betrayal. This story was filled with so many cathartic 'Ah ha’s' and so many spiritually uplifting and atmospheric moments, it will definitely be sticking with me.

Epic of Helinthia is a beautifully written historical novel with a perfect touch of Greek mythology – it has the magic and mystery without repeating the already familiar stories. I especially love how interesting and memorable the characters in this book are and how well the relationships between them are written. It might sound like a cliché, but this is genuinely one of those books I just didn’t want to put down. The mystery introduced in the beginning comes to a satisfying ending and the character arcs are a joy to follow. Definitely a book I would recommend.

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

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for granting me an arc in exchange for an honest rewiew.

This book was a bit tough to start - mostly because I started it out a little confused. Once I fully understood the relations between the characters, I was capable of fully enjoying it. It was incredibly useful to have a diagram at the start of the book, so I could go back and understand everyone's positions.

The description of the book is rather captivating and I'm happy to announce that the author does it justice. It's a rich tale of a plot to perform a coup and bring peace to the island of Helinthia - except it's much more than it first looks like. Throw in greek gods, oracles, mythical creatures, secret brotherhoods, betrayals and some extra secrets and you're still not quite seeing the whole picture.

My most favourite part of this book is that I couldn't predict where it was going. There were moments I thought I was guessing correctly when in truth I was falling for an intricate diversion - that's some of the magic of this book too: you find the strings and connections along with the characters and rarely ever before.

About the characters, some of them stressed me in the beginning and I could easily pick which ones I didn't like but, as the book progressed, I found that I couldn't dislike them quite as much - here and there, the author cleverly shows us a little bit of the depth each character holds and shows us faults that we cannot hold them against them. It's hard to say which one was my favourite but, in order to avoid spoilers, I'll restrain myself to pointing out how much Gadnor grew, never once letting go of his kindness.

As for the writing, MJ Pankey is damn good. Sometimes, no matter how good a book or plot is, the author's writing makes some parts of it boring and hard to get through. This was not the case. Never once did I get bored or skip any paragraph or line. I was captivated until the very last word.

Overall, if you're looking for adventure mixed with greek mythology and enthralling characters, I absolutely recommend this book.

I was also very happy to find this is only the first book of a series. I'll keep an eye out for the next!

This book was amazing! Definitely an epic!!

I loved how the author utilized a glossary and Diagram at the beginning of the book to help readers understand the titles and hierarchy of this story as well as the meanings of words not usually found in English stories. Since I read this on a kindle, it was a little time consuming to go back and forth to the glossary though, so most of the time I just chose to remain ignorant to what a certain word might mean and let the story explain what it needed to explain. Hopefully this works itself out when physical books are printed.

This is 100% a plot driven story where for once, not all is a happy ending (which is refreshing). The characters are lovable, the multi POV is PERFECTLY executed. And the reveal at the ending???? For the first time in a while I couldn’t guess where that was going to go from the beginning of the book. WELL DONE MJ Pankey and publishers. Can’t wait to read more

*Update*
It’s been a few days since I’ve read this story and I truly cannot stop thinking about it - that’s how great of a story this was. I just keep thinking of how the ending was so perfectly lined up throughout the story yet i still didn’t guess it! Crazy

I got this book as an eArc and for the first time in a while I had no annotations or critics to give on the story. It was wonderfully written and the story beautifully told. I just cannot get over it.

Wow! What a fantastic book!

The Epic of Helinthia is an enthralling novel that follows a group of heroes on their quest to free their island from the clutches of a ruthless tyrant. This book is a must-read for fans of both fantasy and Greek mythology, offering an immersive experience that exceeds all expectations.

Although the use of traditional Greek language may be challenging for those unfamiliar with the mythology and terminology, the included glossary of Greek terms makes it easier to follow.

Furthermore, I found the coming of age stories in the novel to be particularly captivating. The characters undergo significant growth and transformation, which is skillfully portrayed by Pankey. I was particularly drawn to Gonivein's story, as she evolves from a shallow, infatuated child into a fierce woman who fights for survival.

Overall, I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a thrilling and unpredictable story. MJ Pankey's brilliant writing has left me completely engrossed and eagerly anticipating the release of the sequels.

Thank you NetGalley and MJ Pankey for the ARC!

Epic of Helinthia is a vivid and exciting story. The story is well-written and thoroughly researched, with such interesting characters, and tense twists and turns. I would recommend this book!