Welcome to the home of MJ Pankey, author, bibliophile, and historiophile.
I love writing stories that dive deep into human emotions, psychology, and social conflict. My narratives are heavily inspired by mythology and history, mainly from ancient Greece. I host the Augusta Writer’s Critique Group, and I have a podcast, where I read-aloud my stories and novels, and you can listen along for free!
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Published October 2023
Epic of Helinthia is an original Greek epic for adult readers about warring gods, an island in the throes of famine, and the mortals who are caught in the storm.
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Published May 2025
Oracle of Helinthia is book 2 in the Epic of Helinthia series. The gods make their will known, and the mortals have no choice but to obey. Or do they?
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Published December 2025
Messenger of Olympus: The River of Truth is a goddess Iris origin story for early readers, which follows the goddess Iris on adventures throughout ancient Greece as she earns her rainbow stripes.
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Releases 2026
War of Helinthia is book 3 of the Epic of Helinthia series. The bloodbath for Helinthia has finally begun, and no one will emerge unchanged.
Releases 2026
Messenger of Olympus: The Island of Refuge is a goddess Iris origin story for early readers, which follows the goddess Iris on adventures throughout ancient Greece as she earns her rainbow stripes.
Releases 2027
Throne of Helinthia is book 4 in the Epic of Helinthia series. Control over the island and the throne will finally be decided in this epic conclusion.
Releases 2026
Messenger of Olympus: The Snows of Grief is a goddess Iris origin story for early readers, which follows the goddess Iris on adventures throughout ancient Greece as she earns her rainbow stripes.
Releases TBD
Road to Persia is an ancient historical fiction novel about love, survival, and one woman’s determination to be free during the Persian conquest of Athens, Greece in 480 B.C.E.
Releases TBD
Flame of Delphi is an ancient historical fiction whodunnit mystery set in 5th century B.C.E. Athens, Greece.
Martin Luther’s 95 Theses, a written document challenging the authority of the Catholic church, was nailed to a church door in 1517, sparking the Reformation. In the following decades, the church’s power and authority was continuously challenged and subsequently diminished. The Reformation would lead to the Age of Enlightenment, a golden age of critical thinking and bold ideas spread...
This post will meander a bit, but bear with me. What is Smashwords? Smashwords is an ebook distribution platform, similar to Kindle, where thousands of books are distributed and published by indie authors. Why Smashwords is significant This year has been a year of revelation for me about the enormity of power certain entities hold. One such entity is Amazon. During the pandemic, I was grateful to...
Greek and Norse gods join forces in an apocalyptic fight to save the world from total annihilation. Witty, engrossing, and full of action and suspense, this irreverent novel of Gods vs God is a must-read for fans of the Iliad and pagan pantheons. Why War of the Pantheons is one of a kind I was hooked from the very first page of this novel and found it challenging to put it down. The premise of...
Tea & Alchemy is a page-turning read full of old world charm and DELICIOUS intrigue. Why Sharon Lynn Fisher’s stories never disappoint There are very few authors that are automatic reads for me, but Sharon Lynn Fisher is one of them and has been one for years. I have adored every book I’ve read of hers and this one is no exception. Sharon Lynn Fisher is the master of cozy...
When a madman seizes the throne, the gods on Olympus fall silent, and the island of Helinthia descends into decay. Anassa Iptys’ glorious city burns. Forluna escapes with the rightful heir, a descendent of Apollo, and hides him away. But the new Anax, Charixes, is relentless. He will not rest until his hands are drenched in their blood. Under Charixes’ rule, the gods abandon the...
Inger N.I. Kuin’s biography of Diogenes is A memorable and thought-provoking biography of one of ancient history’s most provocative philosophers. Diogenes is Tragically overlooked I’d heard of Diogenes in college but didn’t know much about him before requesting this ARC from Netgalley. My Philosophy courses mostly focused on Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle before moving on...
What is Forgotten Landscapes? Forgotten Landscapes is a sweeping narrative of Native American history from pre-and post-European contact. The missing link in the North American historical record that has always been there and has finally been brought to light. Forgotten Landscapes is a must read Stanley A. Rice sets out to show, through both archeological evidence and the historical record, how...
What is Mongol Ascension? A thrilling jump into history where war and honor coalesce into a memorable, nail-biting narrative showcasing the brilliance and ruthlessness of the Mongol empire. Mongol Ascension is Brilliantly written This was my first experience with the Jump in Time series and I wasn’t lost at all. Varga did a fantastic job recapping the critical information from previous...
What is Written in the Waters? This was an absolutely incredible and gutwrenching memoir of Tara Roberts’ journey of self and historical discovery that will stick with me for a very very long time. I finished this book a while ago and just have not written a review because I honestly don’t feel capable of putting into words what this book has accomplished and the mark it has left on...