This is book two in the series and it picks up just after where book one abruptly ended. While the plot moves forward and is easy enough to follow, I do feel that unless you have read "Epic of Helinthia" first, you won't understand who the characters are and why they are forced to face with the obstacles they are struggling to overcome.

I will say I enjoyed this title more than it's predecessor (which felt like a lot of world building and not so much of the of plot moving forward) but due to the lack of resolution in each story, I can't help but think that perhaps they would have been better published as one big story rather than two(or more) smaller ones.



The author has an easy to follow writing style and seems to have hit her stride with this story, giving each of the main characters a distinct voice and their own thread of fate of which they must follow to reach their goals. (Which I hope will eventually all tie together by the next book). But while the main characters are flawed, feel human and stand out from the page (in particular Lithie, Gadnor & Fortuna), and the Gods are mysterious and intriguing, there are secondary/background characters that help propel the plot along but feel a little flat and unforgettable.

My only other negative was that I felt there was not enough <i>"show, don't tell"</i> within the story. There are a few moments where I felt like the reader is smart enough to work out what is happening, but the author has chosen to spell it out on the page rather than letting the story play out naturally.


Overall, I did enjoy this story and while nothing feels resolved by the end, it does make me eager to pick up the next instalment to find out what will happen next. But I guess I will have to make an offering to the gods to ensure I don't have to wait too long for book 3!



Thank you to Netgalley & Muse and Quill Press for providing me with an advanced review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.

Oracle of Helinthia by M.J. Pankey is a gripping continuation of the Epic of Helinthia series, blending Greek mythology with political intrigue and personal conflict. Gonivein and Princess Lithaneva navigate rebellion, loyalty, and divine interference, making for a richly layered story.

The novel shines in its character development, exploring relationships, moral dilemmas, and shifting allegiances. Pankey’s deliberate pacing allows readers to fully engage with the complexities of Helinthia’s world.

Though intense and mature in content, Oracle of Helinthia is a compelling, immersive read that will appeal to fans of myth-inspired, character-driven fantasy.

This was a solid second book! The plot moved along nicely. The book leaves us with many characters in some precarious situations.

I want to thank the author and Netgalley for giving me this e-arc after I loved book one so much, so here's my honest opinion about Oracle of Helinthia.

So good to be back in Helinthia after such a long time! I'll admit I did miss these characters pretty much, some more than others (Gadnor, you're my baby) and reconnecting with them felt a bit like coming home.

The plot did not disappoint expectations after book 1, we get to see a bit more of Gonivein and her coping with everything that has happened to her throughout the first installment, she demonstrates significant growth. She’s more introspective and thoughtful, showing a depth of understanding and maturity that wasn’t as evident before.

I still struggle a bit to understand how no one has hit Kelric cause I would have given the possibility, but I want to believe he has more to offer than what we’ve seen so far. Don’t get me wrong, I get that he’s very protective of those he loves, but man, he really messed things up in this one. I’m curious to see how he manages to untangle everything in the next book.

Dargos and Forluna are perfect in this one and I can see the character development we went through in Epic of Helinthia finally pays off in Oracle. Still, I’m scared that what’s coming next is going to hurt.

Last but not least: Gadnor. He’s always been the gentlest, kindest, and rarest soul, and I’ve always appreciated that about him. But in this book, we finally see him take a stand and fight for what he believes in, and oh, how I thrived! I can’t wait to see where Books 3 and 4 take us, and I really hope we get to see more of his dynamic with Tor.

All this being said, I loved this book so much, and despite what everyone always says about second books, this one did not disappoint one bit. The cliffhanger at the end definitely left me hanging (not gonna lie), but that only makes me want to read Book 3 even more.

Cannot wait to see where this mythical journey takes us and how things are gonna develop cause one certainty is that M.J. Pankey knows how to keep the reader entranced and coming back for more.

Sooooo, this sequel was everything I hoped for and more. The world of Helinthia has truly become one of my favorite places to return to, and I’m both terrified and excited to see where this story goes next. Bring on Book 3, I’m ready (I think).

Oracle of Helinthia is the second book in this Greek mythology fantasy by MJ Pankey. Released 7th May 2025, it's 440 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.

Well written and engaging, this mythology adventure flows directly from the first book. Readers who are unfamiliar with the back story might struggle a bit to find a footing. This is an extremely intricate and complex cast of characters (and for this reason, the ebook format is recommended for ease of search ability). The author has included the necessary/required map and hierarchy flowchart.

Content warnings for graphic violence, murder, slavery, suicide ideation, PTSD, abuse, and psychological torture, as well as animal abuse which might be a deal-breaker for some readers. The violence isn't gratuitous, but it is difficult to read in places.

Four stars. Tough and gritty. One for the adult classic mythology fans.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

And we're back with book 2!!

TBH, I forgot what happened in book 1 but as we dive in the Oracle of Helinthia then I remembered and there is certainly a character development. I feel like this is much better than book 1 - more action, more thrilling. Even the world-building are much better.


Also, the plot twist?? Now I can't wait for book 3!!

Oracle of Helinthia, the gripping sequel to Epic of Helinthia, plunges readers back into a world of gods, magic, romance, and political intrigue. Picking up where the first book left off, this installment deepens the stakes as characters face both the fallout from previous events and fresh challengesThe pacing leans less on action and more on character development and emotional depth, offering richly layered plotlines that explore the complexities of power, loyalty, and personal growth.Pankey masterfully blends mythology with human emotion, crafting a tale that is both epic and intimate. Fans of Greek mythology, political fantasy, and character-driven narratives will find this a thrilling continuation — and a promising setup for what’s still to come.

Second book did not disappoint. Giving this a 3.75 out of 5 stars. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Picking up right where Book 1 finished, Oracle of Helinthia is definitely more character driven than the first installment. You really get to learn more about the characters and their inner workings and how that affects the decisions they make. I REALLY like the addition of Lithaneva as one of the protagonists and POVs of the story, especially for reasons I will not talk about here because *spoilers*.

I will admit that with character driven plots like this one, there can be pacing issues where certain plotlines feel like they aren't progressing. A good like, 66% of the story is planning that will come to fruition in the next installment, which some might find boring or too slow. Since there are so many POVs in the story, this makes up for the slow pacing a bit because you are jumping from one perspective to another, but at the same time this can make it a bit confusing to keep everything straight.

Can't wait for the next installment!

I’m really enjoying this series. It is a tense, mythology based fantasy with lots of political plotting and backstabbing. What I like about this is it’s not a retelling but an original story with mythology woven into the narrative.

This book is the sequel to Epic of Helinthia and picks up in the aftermath of the first book. I don’t want to say too much about the plot as it would be impossible to avoid spoilers.

The book follows the same format as the first book - a slower build up to a nail biting climax which leaves you eager for the next instalment. I was open mouthed at the plot twist towards the end of the book. I ended up another late night to finish it as I was gripped.

We continue follow our main characters - Dargos, Gonivein, Kelric, Gadnor and Forluna as well as a newer addition Lithaneva, daughter of Anax Charixes (who continues to eye up total control of the entire island of Helinthia. Lithaneva allies herself with the rebels against her father)

The characters adjust to their lives, following the events of Epic of Helinthia, which brings individual difficulties. Despite this they all have a good amount of character development, however I still struggle with Kelric who generally remains a volatile, arrogant and entitled - albeit we get more insight into his own personal trauma that has likely left him like this but I really hope he deals with it as the series progresses as my jaw hurts from clenching it in frustration during his chapters!

Tor, Gadnor and Forluna remain favourite characters along with our favourite Greek divinities who make sporadic appearances. At this point I’m not sure which goddess I’m rooting for here though so I’ll see when I read the third instalment which I’ll be certain to read.

Overall I think these books deserve more attention and are a really enjoyable, original read with great world building, intrigue and edge of the seat moments

There are a number of trigger warnings at the end of this book that readers may wish to check out before reading if need be

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC. My review is my own opinion

I loved being back in Helinthia. The Oracle of Helinthia is set in a fictional island in Ancient Greece and tells an original story featuring the Greek gods. The setting is impeccably written including the gods themselves. You can tell the author did a lot of research in telling this story.

While the plot is high stakes, I would describe this as a character study and the characters are amazing. They are all well rounded and their POVs are so distinct that they feel real.

Ultimately, I think pacing suffered so these other elements could shine. It was much too long for what actually happened and the end of this book seemed like it should have been the halfway point, which left the story feeling incomplete.

However, the plot did pick up at the end and left me excited to read the next installment.

Thank you to the author for an advanced reader copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in a series based on Greek mythology, but revolving around fictionalized people and places, as well as a new goddess – Helinthia.

I requested this book without realizing it was a sequel to the previously published Epic of Helinthia, but lucky for me, that hardly mattered. Pankey managed to perfectly weave in enough backstory and place references to the first novel at the right times, so I was rarely, if ever, confused. Huge props to the author.

The story follows several characters throughout Pankey’s Greek inspired landscape, over which impending war and the beginnings of a famine loom. Lithaneva, an independent-minded princess, married to a man in a relationship with another man, daughter of a cold and murdering anax, and lover of Helinthia the goddess, attempts to aid a rebellion from her isolated and dangerous position across the kingdoms. In Golpathia, Forluna, nymph and protector of the heir, plots against enemies – both empirical and personal. Gadnor, the heir apparent, fights to find his footing in society and earn the respect of his contemporaries and betters. His older brother, Kelric, navigates the difficulties of leadership, subverting the anax’s spies, and the first days of marriage with his new bride, Gonivein, who is recently disabled, proclaimed an oracle of Apollo, and wading through grief. Beside them all stands Dargos, Gonivein’s elder brother and protector, who ends up needing to protect himself.

Pankey has created a wonderful and unique world here, putting a fresh spin on both age-old classics and the recent revival of Greek myth retellings in modern literature. The plot is well paced, the writing strong, and the character arcs – especially Kelric and Forluna’s! – well done and intriguing for the reader. I plan to go back and read the previous installment – as well as look out for the third in years to come.

Oracle of Helinthia by MJ Pankey, the second installment of the Epic of Helinthia, was a fabulous read. This was my first exposure to this author, and she did not disappoint. The world building was exquisite, and the characters are amazing. I cannot wait to explore her other works.

Thank you to Muse and Quill Press for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Audiobook Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: May 07 2025

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#MuseandQuillPress
#OracleofHelinthia
#MJPankey
#Fantasy
#GreekMyths
#WomensFiction
#YarisBookNook
#netgalley

Gosh, writing this review is going to be tricky. It's been two years since the first book in the Helinthia series was published so I will admit to being very hazy on the details so that absolutely affected my reading of this second book. But I also wasn't expecting five open-door sex scenes (they are not my preference). And, to be honest, political intrigue is, well, intriguing but I hate the mind games, the deceit, the deliberate miscommunication, and the refusal to share the truth (even with people you love!). I won't dock this book down to two stars but my three stars is an indication of my confusion and frustration with how the plot unfolded and how the characters behaved.

“Oracle of Helinthia,” sequel to “Epic of Helinthia,” shows our protagonists facing the consequences from the first book as well as new obstacles and challenges. Lithaneva plays double agent between Helinthia and her father as he escalates his conquest of the island. Gonivein recovers from physical and emotional scars while navigating new waters in her relationship with Kelric. Kelric continues to be the worst. Forluna tries to orchestrate the salvation of Helinthia by arranging a marriage between Lithaneva and the heir of Iptys. Dargos faces betrayal at every turn, and Gadnor is named strategos and must soon adopt a new mantle.
The first book in this series was perfectly adequate (I gave it 3.5 stars), but nothing mind-blowing. I understand now that the first book needed to set everyone up to be where they are at the start of this novel, which is where all the intrigue really takes place. There’s less action here but more pivotal character and plot moments. Each character faces their own individual trials that seem to place them in situations that are only impossible because of their unique flaws or positions, which to me is the mark of excellent writing. As alliances shift and relationships develop, the stakes continue to increase. If you are interested in a Greek mythology-inspired historical fantasy rich with conflict, this is the story for you.

I loved Epic of Helinthia, and this sequel did not disappoint, it's as good as I expected. It perfectly continuous with the story,and we can see how the characters develop. Very nicely written and again we can see the love and research from the author into this story. Can't wait to read the next one, and fins out the rest of the story.
If you gods, goddesses, mythology, this saga is for you.

I always say that the second book is better than the first and I’m yet again proven right. I loved these characters in the first book but they become so much more complex in Oracle of Helinthia. The character development was so so good. It felt like being in their heads and the writing was so compelling that the constant motion of the story had me shocked when I turned the page and it was the acknowledgments. Well done.

Oracle of Helinthia continues the story started with Epic and leaves me hungry for a book three to this amazing series. The Pacing was perfect allowing for intricate world building and story layering while keeping up the intensity in a way that had each chapter ending catapulting me into the next chapter's opening. I will give a major cliff hanger warning for my fantasy series friends that struggle with those but for me it is one of the draws to this sort of writing.
I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy and will definitely be recommending this title to others.

When I saw that Oracle of Helinthia was available on NetGalley, I ran to request a copy.

I loved Epic of Helinthia, and this second book did not disappoint!

One of my favorite things about this series is that things take time. When characters hold grudges, they don’t forgive right away. When they’re hurt, physically or mentally, they don’t just heal three pages later. (By the way, Gonivein, girl, you’re never gonna heal properly if you keep pushing yourself like this…)

The characters feel so real. They have complicated, sometimes even contradicting emotions, but I always get where they’re coming from, even if I don’t agree. (Yes, Kelric, I’m looking at you.)

Speaking of Kelric, this man drives me crazy. Every time he did something awful, I hated him. Then we’d get his POV, and even with his justifications, I still hated him. But as soon as we switched back to Gonivein’s POV, I kind of forgave him—just like she did. And it’s not even like we learned anything new! That just shows how well the author played with perspective in this book. (Or maybe I’m just soft and naive at this point, who knows? Lol.)

This book wasn’t action-packed. I was expecting a certain big event to happen, but it didn’t, though I guess it will in the next book. There were some smaller moments pushing the plot forward, but even without huge action scenes, I was never bored. Honestly, I would’ve finished even faster if I hadn’t been worrying about my phone battery dying.

Anyway, I need the next book ASAP!

Following on from Epic of Helinthia, the village of Tyldan has been massacred spreading fear amongst the people of Golpathia. While Anax Charixes is forming his battle plans, the gods have chosen new oracles - a sign that they are returning to Helinthia.

But mortals are still the playthings of the gods and their motives and alliances are unclear. As war looms, Kelric discovers spies have infiltrated his city, putting Gonivein, Dargos, Gandor and their alliance with the rest of the rebels at risk.

This second book in the series (Epic of Helinthia) was just as magical as the first. I loved that we understood a little more behind the famine and the war that Charixes is waging. The motives of the main characters also change a little as we learn more about what Charixes is planning and how the various gods are involved.

The pacing was a little slower than in the first book and while it doesn’t cover much of a time period, there’s important strategic alliances and strategies at play which I hope will be extended upon in the next book.

Really loving this series and can’t wait to see where it goes!

Thanks to Muse and Quill Press, the author and NetGalley for my copy of the e-book in exchange for my honest review

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this sequel to Epic of Helinthia. I loved the first book and this one did not disappoint in the slightest. Picking up from where Epic left off, we’re transported back to the world of gods, goddesses, heroes and villains. Mixing mythology and romance, magic and treason, this is a breathtaking read, full of wonderful characters I loved. I cannot wait for the next instalment.