**Special edition Paperback Edition includes a duplex printed softcover and character portraits created by Marina Charalambides and a sneak peek prologue of Book 2: The Oracle**
"An amazing debut filled with gods and goddesses, heroes and villains, love and loss, blood and tears: everything a fantasy novel needs to keep readers turning the page late into the night!" - Maria V. Snyder, New York Times Bestselling author of The Chronicles of Ixia series
When a madman seized the throne, the gods on Olympus fell silent, and the island of Helinthia withered into decay...
Dargos 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 Dargos' 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.
Turmoil follows their footsteps, and they're confronted with the terrifying truth that not all who dwell on Olympus want the island to recover, and some will stop at nothing to ensure Helinthia spirals deeper into chaos.
Just when all hope seems lost, one emerges with a dark secret that could bring peace to the island, but at what cost?
Fans of Madeline Miller's Circe and Jennifer Saint's Ariadne will delight in this original epic fantasy as they are transported to a vivid world of myth and majesty, danger and deception, to experience the wrath of both gods and men. Imbued with the essence of Homer's epic, the Iliad, MJ Pankey's gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines come alive in all of their flawed complexities to deliver a page-turning narrative that will keep readers on the edge of their seat 'til the very end.
"Pankey delivers a fantastical adventure of mortal rebellion and divine games. Recommended!" - Historical Novels Review
"In Epic of Helinthia, MJ Pankey flawlessly combines the magic and mythology of ancient Greece with the richness and scope of the epic fantasy genre. With a fabulous cast of characters, breathless action and a driving plot, this adventure is not to be missed." - A.D. Rhine, author of Horses of Fire
"Epic of Helinthia is a page-turner of an epic-fantasy debut! Inspired by ancient Greek culture and mythology (and well-researched, too), this story is rich with political intrigue, plot twists, and betrayal, oh my! Can't wait to see what happens next!" - Sharon Lynn Fisher, author of Salt & Broom
"MJ Pankey's Epic of Helinthia is the work of an author whose adroitness with prose, dialog, and characterization makes this an irresistible addition to the genre of the pseudo-historical novel." - IndieReader (starred review)
"From its harrowing first chapter to the firm, inspiring final lines, Epic of Helinthia is a memorable, high-stakes adventure-the first in a trilogy of fantasy novels in which mortals and immortals clash over the future of the island they all hold dear." - Foreword Clarion
