I really enjoyed this. Epic of Helinthia is a play on the Greek myths, using the usual Gods and Goddesses with the addition of a “younger” Goddess: Helinthia.

The humans of Helinthia’s island are caught in the crossfire when other Gods (namely Hera) decide to teach her a lesson. Of course the humans are just pawns to be played with.

I liked the action (fights, chases, lion attacks (I know!!)), the interference of other Gods/ Goddesses (Artemis and Apollo in particular) in order to help their favourite humans, and the fact that you could never be quite sure who you could trust.

The writing is immersive - the scenes are well set, the characters are both easy to live and hate, as well as empathise with.

It felt as though a lot of research had gone into the culture of the time as well as the mythology surrounding it, and it was rather violent and bloody on occasion (these were violent times!).

I’m so glad that I enjoyed this, as I have the next instalment all set to go from BookSirens - the Oracle of Helinthia is set to be out very soon (and my review will be up as soon as I’ve read it!).

"Epic of Helinthia" is an absolute gem of a fantasy novel that swept me off my feet and tossed me into a world that’s as vibrant as a peacock in a paint factory! Following the journey of Elara, a fierce warrior with a past more mysterious than my grocery list, I found myself laughing, gasping, and occasionally yelling at the characters as they faced off against dark forces that clearly didn’t get the memo about personal space.

The author has a knack for painting scenes that make you feel like you’ve just waltzed into Helinthia itself—one moment you’re in a lush forest, the next you’re dodging dragons (or maybe just a particularly cranky squirrel). Elara is the kind of protagonist you root for; she’s relatable, brave, and has enough sass to keep things interesting. And don’t even get me started on the supporting cast—they’re quirky, lovable, and just the right amount of crazy!

Sure, the beginning takes its time to set up the world, but trust me, it’s worth the wait. "Epic of Helinthia" is a delightful blend of adventure, humor, and heart, and I can’t wait to dive back into this enchanting universe. It’s an absolute must-read for anyone who loves a good romp through fantasy!

A good read and a solid start to a new series as I can already see the 2nd book is available. I will definitely carry on the series but it's not quite top of my list. I thought it was very well written and I felt easily captivated and entertained by the story. It was face paced and action packed. Really adventurous and I think I also learnt more about the Ancient Greeks and I do already know a fair amount because I love books on the subject!

DNF at 6%

Not poorly written - actually well done. However it just didn’t vibe with me, and that’s okay! I do think a lot of people will really enjoy this, I’m just learning more and more that Greek myth historical fiction/fantasy isn’t for me.

Overall a pretty enjoyable read but not one of my favourite Greek retellings. The writing was good but just fell a little flat in places.

I've read a few books in this genre recently with mixed results so had this title hold for a little while. I think I put it off a bit as I read a few recently but didn't enjoy their style of writing, but this book really is epic (as stated in the title) and I wished I'd started it sooner. I usually love a good thriller, but what a mistake to leave it - it was brilliant. You really are transported back in time to an ancient Greek island called Helinthia for a thrilling Greek fast paced adventure.

There are some great characters, my favourites being Gonivein and Gadnor and I really enjoyed reading from their perspectives. I really can see this book being made into a a movie or tv series as my imagination really ran away with the book. It's clear the author has a lot of knowledge in this area and brings the characters and location to life.

A big thanks to Muse and Quill Press, Netgalley and MJ Pankey. I believe this is Pankey's first published book and what a gem. Definitely an author to look out for!!

I look forward to reading a lot more from this author in years to come.

Unfortunately I didn't really get what I was expecting with this book. It was well-written, but it was too intense for me. The book was described as good for fans of Circe and Ariadne, however I felt it was more of a fantasy novel than a Greek Mythology retelling. As I said it was very well written, it just wasn't quite for me.

Really a great one. Greek retellings may seem a bit overdone, but M J Pankey breathes life into this. The writing is strong and vivid, her charavters are great and this is absolutely worth a look.

I was really looking forward to new fable placed in ancient Greece, but it didn't strike home with me. Well-written, for sure. But the characters ... I either hated them or didn't care. World- and plot-wise, there was too much going on ... too much to keep track of ... I think those looking for epic world-building and a little bit more interested in Greek mythology than me will surely enjoy this one.

This wasn’t quite what I was expecting - I was thinking more of a myth retelling, like I’ve been reading a lot of lately, but this read more like fantasy fiction than myth IMO. Also wasn’t expecting it to be the first in a series. In any case it was a decent read, if a bit simplistic.

A fantasy set in an ancient-Greek like setting. It rhymes with, rather than is set in, the history and mythos of ancient Greek - all very familiar, but not quite what you've read before. It has a very dark and gritty Game of Thrones feel to it - the stakes are real and high with an alarmingly body count (just in Chapter One!) but we also get some very real gods showing up as well, meddling as only the Greek gods knew how to do. All of it turns into set up more than anything, but quite a set up for a character you can root for, promising an exciting series to follow.

@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.

Sorry it took me so long to review this book, I lost my login :")

This book was amazing. I loved it so so much. I actually really enjoyed the writing, it drew me into the story much deeper, making me finish the book within a week. If you love a twist on the greek mythology, this is definitely something for you.

Overall, enjoyed this a lot! I’m a big fan of the way Greek and other mythologies are being revisited and retold in recent years and the The Epic of Helinthia was both engrossing and evocative. The central characters were well drawn and, with multiple PoVs, it was easy to find yourself pulled along as the events unfold, sometimes at quite a pace.

In thinking about it since, I feel I would have liked even more colour for the antagonists and their drives and desires, the interactions with the gods were a little fleeting, and, especially near the end, too much happened too quickly leaving a sense of being rushed to an ending. I’m not sure if the author is planning others to follow but I’m certainly invested enough to read any sequels if so.

A big thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley for selecting me to receive an early ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

DNF @ 19%

Overall, this book did nothing for me. I typically enjoy mythology based books but this one just didn't speak to me.

I didn't enjoy any of the characters I'd met, their plights weren't interesting enough to want to keep reading, and at one point I thought Kelric was G's brother and we were getting incest involved.

It was hard to follow with a lot of purple prose. I just don't see myself enjoying this one.

Reminded me of Madeline Miller's writing which I always love. It was Greek inspired but also very unique at the same time. I thought the multiple POVs were well written and enjoyed it.

This is a well written Greek myth inspired book. Epic of Helinthia is a must read for Greek myth fans, and it tells an unique story which will surprise you!

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this book directly from the author, and I must say, it truly exceeded my expectations. Despite my initial concerns about it being yet another tale centered around the Greek gods and goddesses, this book managed to captivate me in a way that others haven't.

The characters and the world they inhabit were truly a delight to explore. Although the title may suggest an epic fantasy, it actually leans more towards the traditional fantasy genre, which I found refreshing. Unlike other books, it didn't overwhelm me with an excessive amount of intricate world-building details, allowing me to immerse myself effortlessly in its pages..

I’d like to give this book 3.5 stars but since it won’t let me do half of a star, I’ll settle for 3. If, like me, you were interested in this book because you thought it was a mythology retelling… I’m going to stop you. You’ll be disappointed if that is what you are looking for. Although this book does have some ties to the gods and goddesses of Greek mythology, it is in a minor role and all of the main characters are not ones you know from the myths.

However, if you are looking for a fresh and new story… one where the Greek gods do play a guiding hand, then this may be the story… or the epic… for you. It took a while for me to get into the story since there is a lot of world and character building. Remember this isn’t a familiar story where you know the characters, but a new story where you’ll need to get to know them all. Due to that slow start, which includes a lot of detail that takes a while to keep straight, I did have to knock off a star. The story didn’t grab me as quickly as I would have liked, but if you hang in there it is worth the wait. The other half a star I took off was just because about half of the characters annoyed me. The characters in this story seriously lack the ability to just listen to one another. I suppose that without that trait, the story would have been much shorter but yikes did I want to smack most of them.

That being said… it was a good story and I did enjoy it. I would recommend it for anyone that likes a story guided by the Greek gods but is looking for one that they aren’t familiar with. I’m wondering if there will be a second book because I am rather curious to see where the story goes from there.

DNF. I just couldn't get into the book: neither the characters or story pulled me in. Probably a case of 'it's not the book, it's me'.