Epic of Helinthia
With famine and unrest among the clans, Dargos leaves his sister Gonivein in charge while he and other clan leaders attend a wedding feast. While there, they hope to recruit other clans into rebellion against their cruel king, but they’re attacked along the way by an unknown faction. Meanwhile, Gonivein begins seeing nightly images of villages burning and a message to keep going. Is this a message from the gods or simply her own mind playing tricks? The answer comes when she’s forced to flee their settlement as its being invaded by the king’s men. All she’s ever thought about is her upcoming marriage, but now she’s forced into a life on the run with only a slave for protection. Concurrently, as Dargos and his companions seek a safe haven, he must uncover a dangerous truth that threatens the king’s livelihood while also surviving to tell the tale.
While the island is imagined, the society is Greek inspired. The only thing that feels out of place are the character names; these mostly feel more British than Greek (Gadnor, Kelric, Gonivein). It takes a few chapters to understand the hierarchy of the characters and the terms used, but the world building is delightfully rich and detailed. There are five viewpoints, which serves the story’s development quite well and keeps up the swift pacing. What really wrapped me up in the narrative, though, are Pankey’s characters, who are constantly in motion and facing challenges, especially Gonivein, whose entire outlook is upended. Pankey explores all the characters in captivating ways that drive the plot forward and keep tensions high. Plot-wise, there are so many twists and turns; I was on the edge of my seat throughout this epic tale. Pankey delivers a fantastical adventure of mortal rebellion and divine games. Recommended!
