Riordan
The Mark of Athena
✦
The Heroes of Olympus
Rick Riordan - 5 books
The direct sequel series, adding Roman demigods to the mix. Percy returns alongside new POV characters. Read this immediately after The Last Olympian.
Series - Books in order
Percy Jackson and the Olympians books in order
by Rick Riordan - 5 books - 2005-2009 - Updated June 2026
Percy Jackson discovers he is the son of Poseidon and gets shipped off to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods. Each book sends Percy on a quest drawn from Greek mythology, blending laugh-out-loud narration with genuine stakes. Riordan originally created the stories for his son, who has ADHD and dyslexia, and that personal touch shows. The mythology is surprisingly accurate under all the humor.
Riordan
The Lightning Thief
✦
1
Riordan
The Lightning Thief
✦
1
The short answer
Read in publication order, starting with The Lightning Thief (2005). publication.
5 books - read in publication order
Show orderPublication order
Contains affiliate links| # | Book | Published | Rating | Where to read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Lightning Thief The Lightning ThiefStart | 2005 | 4.3 | Kindle $7.99Paperback $8.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $9.99 |
| 2 | The Sea of Monsters The Sea of Monsters | 2006 | 4.2 | Kindle $7.99Paperback $8.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $9.99 |
| 3 | The Titan's Curse The Titan's Curse | 2007 | 4.3 | Kindle $7.99Paperback $8.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $9.99 |
| 4 | The Battle of the Labyrinth The Battle of the Labyrinth | 2008 | 4.4 | Kindle $7.99Paperback $8.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $9.99 |
| 5 | The Last Olympian The Last Olympian | 2009 | 4.5 | Kindle $7.99Paperback $8.99Audible $14.99Bookshop $9.99 |
Our recommended reading order
publication
Riordan
The Lightning Thief
✦
Best book to start with
The Lightning Thief
Book #1, and still the best on-ramp. It sets up everything that makes this series work.
Catch up on the whole series
Box sets in print, or listen on Audible.
Similar series
If you love Percy Jackson and the Olympians, try these next.
Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
✦
Harry Potter
J.K. Rowling - 7 books
The other defining kids' fantasy series of its generation. If you love the found-family dynamic and a hidden magical world, Potter is the obvious next read.
Riordan
The Red Pyramid
✦
The Kane Chronicles
Rick Riordan - 3 books
Same author, same formula, different mythology. Two siblings discover they are descended from Egyptian pharaohs and must stop the chaos god Set.
Mull
Fablehaven
✦
Fablehaven
Brandon Mull - 5 books
Two kids discover their grandparents' estate is a preserve for mythical creatures. Strong adventure plotting with genuinely scary moments.
Frequently asked questions
The Heroes of Olympus picks up the story directly. After that, The Trials of Apollo closes out the Camp Half-Blood saga. Riordan also wrote standalone mythology series (Kane Chronicles, Magnus Chase) set in the same universe.
The books are written for ages 9-14, but the humor and plotting hold up well for adult readers. The narration is in first person from a 12-year-old's perspective, which is part of the charm.
Much more so than the earlier films. Rick Riordan was directly involved in the production, and the first season covers The Lightning Thief fairly closely, with some changes to pacing and added scenes.
Contains affiliate linksUpdated June 2026