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
Start with The Lightning Thief and read the five Percy Jackson and the Olympians books in publication order. This is the foundation for Rick Riordan's entire mythology universe. After finishing The Last Olympian, the recommended path is Heroes of Olympus (which continues Percy's story with new characters), then The Trials of Apollo. The Kane Chronicles and Magnus Chase can be read in any order after the original five.
Riordan
The Lightning Thief
✦
1
Riordan
The Lightning Thief
✦
1
Start with this book
Most readers should start with The Lightning Thief. It gives you the cleanest entry point before continuing through the full series order.Read on KindleListen on Audible
Buy on Amazon5 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 | |
| 2 | The Sea of Monsters The Sea of Monsters | 2006 | 4.2 | |
| 3 | The Titan's Curse The Titan's Curse | 2007 | 4.3 | |
| 4 | The Battle of the Labyrinth The Battle of the Labyrinth | 2008 | 4.4 | |
| 5 | The Last Olympian The Last Olympian | 2009 | 4.5 |
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.
fantasymiddle-grade
Explore more
Frequently asked questions
The Lightning Thief, published in 2005. Percy discovers he is the son of Poseidon and goes on his first quest.
Publication order: The Lightning Thief, The Sea of Monsters, The Titan's Curse, The Battle of the Labyrinth, The Last Olympian. Then move to Heroes of Olympus.
Yes. Heroes of Olympus is the direct sequel series. Percy returns as a main character alongside new narrators. Read it immediately after The Last Olympian.
The original five Percy Jackson books must be read in order. After that, Heroes of Olympus continues the story. Kane Chronicles and Magnus Chase are separate and can be read in any order.
Heroes of Olympus (5 books) picks up the story directly. After that, The Trials of Apollo closes out the Camp Half-Blood saga. Kane Chronicles (Egyptian) and Magnus Chase (Norse) are standalone series in the same universe.
Contains affiliate linksUpdated June 2026