“Pankey delivers a fantastical adventure of mortal rebellion and divine games. Recommended!”
–Historical Novels Review
Epic of Helinthia Series
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 island, and a devastating famine ravages the population. Desperate to win divine favor and end Charixes’ cruelty, Dargos persuades Kelric and Gadnor to join him in rebellion. They embark on a quest to rally support for war, leaving Dargos’ sister, Gonivein, safe behind the walls of Shallinath.
But the Anax’ spies have been watching, waiting for the right opportunity to strike. Capturing Gonivein is the devastating blow Charixes needs to crush all opposition to his tyranny.
To defeat him, they need the gods on their side. The heir of Apollo can bring them back.
There’s just one problem: only Forluna knows where he is, and she has vowed to take her secret with her to the Underworld.
“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 Reviews
“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 Poison Study
“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 & Daughters of Bronze
“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 & Grimm Curiosities
“The deft composition of intricate plot, engaging characters, and brisk pace lures readers in like the strings of Apollo’s lyre and refuses to let them go.”
—The Bookish Historian
“Epic of Helinthia by MJ Pankey will leave you aching for more from the world of Ancient Greece…”
—Immersed in Books
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The heir to Helinthia’s throne has been found, and the gods of Olympus will be heard.
Smoke rises from the massacred village of Tyldan, spreading fear through Golpathia, the last bastion of resistance against Anax Charixes. Two new oracles come forward—a sign of the gods’ return to Helinthia. But divine motives remain unclear, and whispers of doom take root.
At Dargos’ urging, Gadnor is elevated to strategos and thrust into a bitter rivalry between Golpathia’s leaders. When Princess Lithaneva warns of a plot to crush the rebellion, Gadnor knows it may be his only chance to prove himself. But Gonivein’s new vision reveals a harrowing future—one that will come to pass even if he succeeds.
As war looms, Kelric discovers the anax’ spies have infiltrated his city, putting Gonivein and Dargos at risk. Forluna fears it is only a matter of time before they strike a fatal blow to the rebellion. Meanwhile, Lithaneva’s cunning catches the eye of one whose reputation for subversion is legendary—even among Olympians.
The fate of the isle rests on their shoulders. Will the bonds of love and friendship endure in the face of overwhelming darkness?
“A fast-paced page-turner, the Oracle of Helinthia merges the human and the divine, mixing myth and history to deliver an immersive story bursting with complex heroes, political intrigue, unexpected twists, and extraordinary world-building. Readers will delight in this fresh peek into ancient Greece.“
–Malayna Evans, author of Neferura
“What a ride! Another gripping story of love, betrayal, and political intrigue from the author of the Epic of Helinthia. Divine motives are unclear, loyalty is in question, and danger lurks in the shadows. Pankey’s storytelling will keep you turning pages!”
–Sharon Lynn Fisher, author of Salt & Broom & Grimm Curiosities
“Oracle of Helinthia, the brilliant second installment in MJ Pankey’s Epic of Helinthia series, is an absolute must read for lovers of mythologically inspired fantasy. Not only does it deliver on the promise of the first book, but it somehow manages to raise the stakes and the action to new heights. With its rich setting, utterly relentless plot, and wide cast of complex characters guaranteed to steal your heart, this book and this series represent everything we love about epic fantasy. Do not sleep on it.”
–A.D. Rhine, author of Horses of Fire & Daughters of Bronze
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Coming Soon in this Series
Releases 2026
Releases 2027
Messenger of Olympus Series
Iris lives with her parents beside the ocean. Every day, she waters the clouds to make it rain so the plants will grow.
When a boy arrives from Olympus, Iris is tasked with helping to solve a mystery: Zeus’s daughters have accused each other of lying, but each argues they are telling the truth. Their friendship is in peril and the tension is causing mayhem on Olympus!
Iris must find a magical river and bring some of its water back to Olympus. This water will make anyone who drinks it tell the truth.
There’s just one problem.
She must go to the Underworld—a dark, terrifying place filled with dangerous monsters—to get it.
Iris soon learns of another mystery. Hades, the god of the Underworld, is angry with Zeus, and no one knows why.
Can Iris face her fears and uncover the truth?
“I was pleasantly surprised by The River of Truth, realizing rather quickly as I perused the sample that this is precisely the sort of book I would want to put in front of students who need a book a little more entertaining but are also working at a 2nd-3rd grade level. While there are some more difficult words, like optimistic and straightened, the vast majority are 2-syllable or less and generally follow phonemic rules that make this book perfect for reading development. And who can go wrong with Greek Mythology?”
–Steph F., Educator
“A reader of Percy Jackson growing up, I was a big fan of Greek Myths and Legends. It is so exciting to see a series using these myths in a way that is digestible for even younger audiences! I can see many young kids loving Iris’s voice and having fun on her journeys.”
–Joe N., Reviewer
“I chose a bunch of early children’s books to read on Netgalley to read with my niece. Even though this was a sample, she loved it, and to be honest so did I! The illustrations were stunning and made me nostalgic of how GOOD picture books are.
My niece had never heard of Greek mythology before, and she was so intrigued by the names and the illustrations, I can’t help but agree that there Greek mythology for early readers is so niche right now, but it needs to be a common theme!”
–Jezabel A., Reviewer
“This is such a cute book! I love the style of artwork, and the colors are so vibrant! The only thing I didn’t like is that it ended!”
–Tiana R., Reviewer
“Absolutely adored this sample of The River of Truth.
The illustrations are incredible and this has left me wanting more.
Looking forward to being able to get my hands on a copy.”
–Louise T., Reviewer
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Coming Soon!
Other Publications
“Before Gods” in Musings of the Muses,
an anthology of Greek mythology retellings published by Brigids Gate Press.