Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
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J.K. Rowling
J.K. Rowling - 11 books
The other titan of kids' fantasy. If your kids loved Percy Jackson, Harry Potter is the obvious next step, and vice versa.
RR
Author - Books in order
Rick Riordan books in order
Middle Grade Fantasy Author - b. June 5, 1964, San Antonio, Texas, USA - Updated June 2026
30+
novels
15+
stories
45 million+
copies sold
Rick Riordan was a middle school English teacher who made up stories about Greek gods for his son, and those bedtime tales became Percy Jackson. Since then, he's sold over 45 million books and turned mythology into the most popular subject in middle school. His books are funny, fast, and packed with real mythological detail. He's covered Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Norse mythology, and launched an imprint to amplify own-voices mythological stories from other authors.
Riordan
The Lightning Thief
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1
Riordan
The Lightning Thief
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1
Where to start
New to Riordan? Start with The Lightning Thief (2005) - a tight, self-contained read that is the definitive Riordan experience.
30+ novels - standalone, no series commitment
Publication order
Notable novels - newest readers can dip in anywhere; completists read top to bottom.
| # | Book | Year | Rating | Where to read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Lightning Thief The Lightning ThiefStart here Middle Grade Fantasy | 2005 | 4.3 | Kindle $7.99Paperback $8.99Audible $19.95Bookshop $14.99 |
| 2 | The Sea of Monsters The Sea of Monsters Middle Grade Fantasy | 2006 | 4.1 | Kindle $7.99Paperback $8.99Audible $19.95Bookshop $14.99 |
| 3 | The Titan's Curse The Titan's Curse Middle Grade Fantasy | 2007 | 4.2 | Kindle $7.99Paperback $8.99Audible $19.95Bookshop $14.99 |
| 4 | The Battle of the Labyrinth The Battle of the Labyrinth Middle Grade Fantasy | 2008 | 4.3 | Kindle $7.99Paperback $8.99Audible $19.95Bookshop $14.99 |
| 5 | The Last Olympian The Last Olympian Middle Grade Fantasy | 2009 | 4.5 | Kindle $7.99Paperback $8.99Audible $19.95Bookshop $14.99 |
| 6 | The Red Pyramid The Red Pyramid Middle Grade Fantasy | 2010 | 3.9 | Kindle $7.99Paperback $8.99Audible $19.95Bookshop $14.99 |
| 7 | The Lost Hero The Lost Hero Middle Grade Fantasy | 2010 | 4.2 | Kindle $7.99Paperback $8.99Audible $19.95Bookshop $14.99 |
| 8 | The Sword of Summer The Sword of Summer Middle Grade Fantasy | 2015 | 4.0 | Kindle $7.99Paperback $9.99Audible $19.95Bookshop $15.99 |
| 9 | The Hidden Oracle The Hidden Oracle Middle Grade Fantasy | 2016 | 4.0 | Kindle $7.99Paperback $9.99Audible $19.95Bookshop $15.99 |
| 10 | The Chalice of the Gods The Chalice of the Gods Middle Grade Fantasy | 2023 | 4.2 | Kindle $10.99Paperback $14.99Audible $19.95Bookshop $17.99 |
Series & where they fit
Riordan's standalones are most of the work, but these series reward reading in order.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
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Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Most popular7 books - 2005-2024 - Middle Grade Fantasy
Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, fights monsters, goes on quests, and tries to save the world while dealing with middle school.
Start with The Last Olympian - See order →
Heroes of Olympus
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Heroes of Olympus
5 books - 2010-2014 - Middle Grade Fantasy
Greek and Roman demigods team up against an ancient threat. A direct sequel to Percy Jackson.
Start with The Mark of Athena - See order →
The Kane Chronicles
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The Kane Chronicles
3 books - 2010-2012 - Middle Grade Fantasy
Carter and Sadie Kane discover they're descended from Egyptian pharaohs and must battle ancient gods.
Start with The Red Pyramid - See order →
Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard
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Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard
3 books - 2015-2017 - Middle Grade Fantasy
A homeless teenager in Boston dies and ends up in Valhalla. Norse mythology with Riordan's signature humor.
Start with The Sword of Summer - See order →
Riordan
The Lightning Thief
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Best book to start with
The Lightning Thief
The most complete on-ramp to Riordan: a contained story that shows exactly why this author matters.
Build your Riordan shelf
Most-loved titles in print, or start listening free on Audible.
If you like Rick Riordan
Authors and series with the same grip.
Colfer
Artemis Fowl
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Eoin Colfer
Eoin Colfer - 15+ books
Artemis Fowl has the same blend of humor and adventure. Slightly more sci-fi, same energy.
Rick Riordan books & movies in order
See every book matched to its screen version, with where to watch.
Frequently asked questions
Start with Percy Jackson (5 books), then Heroes of Olympus (5 books), then Trials of Apollo (5 books). The Kane Chronicles and Magnus Chase can be read anytime after Percy Jackson. They're separate stories with minor crossover.
The sweet spot is ages 8 to 14, but adults enjoy them too. Percy Jackson starts at a 5th-grade reading level and grows with the audience. Heroes of Olympus and Trials of Apollo skew slightly older.
Yes, directly. Heroes of Olympus picks up where Percy Jackson ends and features many of the same characters. You should read Percy Jackson first.
Contains affiliate linksUpdated June 2026