Few book sagas in the last decades have been as beloved as those crafted by Rick Riordan’s pen. With his emblematic Riptide in hand, Percy Jackson opened the path for many young readers’ love of reading, Greek mythology, and fantasy tales.
But how many Percy Jackson books are there? The short answer is many. Riordan is a prolific writer who has been releasing books practically nonstop since the series’ beginnings in 2005.
The long answer? Well, the story has as many paths as Daedalus’ Labyrinth. But with luck, this article will be like Ariadne’s thread and guide you throughout the journey across the Percy Jackson saga—and beyond.
- Percy Jackson & the Olympians
- Heroes of Olympus
- The Trials of Apollo
- Beyond the Greco-Roman World—The Riordanverse
- The Riordanverse Keeps Growing
Percy Jackson & the Olympians
Percy Jackson’s life changes forever the day he discovers his absent father is none other than Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea.
Now that he knows Greek myths are not the stuff of legend, he and his friends must embark on multiple quests to protect the life they know from the Titans led by Kronos—all while coming to terms with the complicated dynamics of being related to the most dysfunctional mythological pantheon.
The Lightning Thief (2005)
It has been an eventful summer for Percy Jackson. Not only has he discovered that his father is a Greek god, but he has also had to fight a Minotaur, run from his evil pre-algebra teacher, and join a camp with people who seem not to like him.
To make things worse, Zeus, the King of the Gods, accused him of stealing his lightning bolt. Now, he and his friends Annabeth and Grover must discover the real thief to prevent a war.
The Sea of Monsters (2006)
One year later, it’s time for Percy to return to Camp Half-Blood, but the barriers that protect it from dangerous monsters seeking to kill demigods are wavering.
The solution is to embark on a dangerous journey across the so-called sea of monsters to retrieve the Golden Fleece, paralleling the fabled tales of Odysseus and Jason and the Argonauts.
The Titan’s Curse (2007)
Yet another year has passed, and with that, Kronos’ forces continue to grow. As the camp grows with newcomers and visitors, things get personal for Percy again: Annabeth goes missing.
As a team of five unlikely demigods embark on the mission, the prophecy marking their journey haunts them: one will not survive.
The Battle of the Labyrinth (2008)
When Percy’s 4th year at Camp Half-Blood begins, it’s clear that war against Kronos is inevitable, and both sides continue to strengthen their army.
The secret? Controlling Daedalus’ Labyrinth—the one that once housed the Minotaur and now rests within America’s soil. And at the heart of the labyrinth lies Daedalus’ workshop, filled with innovations that can make or break the war.
The Last Olympian (2009)
After a full year of preparation, the final battle against Kronos and the Titans is here—and the odds are impossibly low.
With the Olympian gods busy trying to keep monster Typhon at bay, protecting the new Mount Olympus is up to Camp Half-Blood. At the same time, Percy’s 16th birthday approaches—and with it, the prophecy that could end it all.
The Chalice of the Gods (2023)
Over 14 years after The Last Olympian’s release date, Riordan returned with a new, low-stakes installment of the original series and protagonists.
In order to enroll in his dream university, Percy must earn three letters of recommendation from Mount Olympus through quests. The first one? Help Zeus’ cupbearer, Ganymede, retrieve his magical goblet.
Heroes of Olympus
Although he wishes to relax after defeating Kronos, things are far from over for Percy Jackson. There is a new Great Prophecy, and powerful demigods—old and new—are intrinsically tied to it. Sadly, things seem to be even more challenging than before.
The Lost Hero (2010)
The Lost Hero shifts the focus from Percy, Annabeth, and Grover and introduces a new trio of demigod friends, each harboring a deep secret.
Jason, Piper, and Leo are inseparable. However, Leo hides his tragic past and dangerous powers behind a jesting mask. Piper is being blackmailed into betraying her friends. Jason does not remember anything—not even who he is, his best friend, Leo, or his girlfriend, Piper.
The Son of Neptune (2011)
Percy woke up confused, amnesiac and lost. Luckily, he finds a camp for demigods where he hopes to remember who he is and find the owner of the name that haunts his dreams: Annabeth.
There, he befriends Hazel and Frank, two outcasts just like him—hiding secrets of their own. Hazel’s buried deep in the earth’s crust, while Frank’s burns within.
The Mark of Athena (2012)
The long-awaited reunion between two lovers is cut short by the proclamation of inevitable war. In the middle of the confusion, seven demigods escape to prevent further bloodshed.
Amid it all, Annabeth faces a dangerous mission sent by her mother: follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me.
The House of Hades (2013)
Percy and Annabeth stumble across a poisonous landscape with minimal survival odds. Surrounded by horrors, they’re forced to rely on the only thing they have—each other.
Meanwhile, Hazel stands at a crossroads: should the heroes attempt to rescue Percy and Annabeth, or prevent war from breaking out between the camps?
Blood of Olympus (2014)
As the Prophecy of Seven unravels, the seven demigods in charge must rely on themselves and their friends to prevent a bloody demigod war and fulfill Gaea’s plans.
Each of them has a role to play, and to storm or fire, the world must fall. But one of the seven must also die.
The Trials of Apollo
This is the first series in the Camp Half-Blood saga that does not feature Percy as a protagonist. Instead, the books follow Apollo—now a mortal teenager banished from Olympus by his father, Zeus.
The Hidden Oracle (2016)
The first book in the Trials of Apollo sets the premise for the rest of the series.
Now a mortal named Lester, Apollo must learn from scratch how to survive, regain his father’s favor, and deal with the countless enemies who see this as an opportunity. His only chance might be reaching Camp Half-Blood.
The Dark Prophecy (2017)
Apollo has his mission: restore the five Oracles that have gone dark, and only then will he stop being Lester.
After undergoing trials and learning experiences in Camp Half-Blood, Lester must undergo the journey to fulfill his mission—with the help of some familiar faces.
The Burning Maze (2018)
After receiving the Dark Prophecy, Lester and his friends are now aware of the new threats seeking to threaten the safety of one of the camps. The Triumvirate is ruthless, so Lester and Meg must move forward to stop their plans.
However, tragedy lurks around the corner, and Apollo may learn far more about the perils of mortality than he expected.
The Tyrant’s Tomb (2019)
After a devastating loss, Apollo continues his mission to learn heroism while protecting the camp against the Triumvirate.
Lester and his allies will make a last stand, but it may involve danger unlike any before.
The Tower of Nero (2020)
The final book of Trials of Apollo has him visit his last stand, the Tower of Nero in New York, as they struggle to free the last oracle. This dangerous quest proves to be personal for them all—Meg must stand against her father, and Apollo has to face his nemesis in the throes of the final prophecy uttered by Ella.
The Sun and the Star (2023)
Although not exactly a main entry, this is a spinoff story that directly follows the events of The Tower of Nero.
The protagonists in this story are Nico di Angelo and Will Solace, sons of Hades and Apollo, respectively, as they dive into the depths of Tartarus to rescue a dear old friend, even in the face of potentially losing something valuable along the way.
Beyond the Greco-Roman World—The Riordanverse
Rick Riordan’s world may have begun with Percy, but it expanded beyond him. Within the same universe, two more book franchises are worth exploring, each tackling different mythological pantheons.
The Kane Chronicles (2010-2012)
Set in the same world as the Camp Half-Blood series, The Kane Chronicles explores Egyptian mythology through the eyes of siblings Carter and Sadie Kane. It has three books: The Red Pyramid, The Throne of Fire, and The Serpent’s Shadow.
Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard (2015-2017)
Similarly to The Kane Chronicles, the Magnus Chase saga puts a modern spin on Norse mythology by following the journey of Magnus Chase, a son of a Norse god. The trilogy comprises The Sword of Summer, The Hammer of Thor, and The Ship of the Dead.
The Riordanverse Keeps Growing
While these are the core stories worth checking out, the Percy Jackson books have much more to offer.
If you’re interested in character exploration and spinoff stories, some encyclopedias feature short character-focused stories, such as The Demigod Diaries and The Demigod Files, or crossover stories like Demigods and Magicians. For those seeking to broaden their Greek mythology knowledge, there are guides explaining myths of gods and heroes narrated by Percy himself.
Rick Riordan continues to expand the world that began with Percy Jackson, and the interest in his fascinating prose and clever worldbuilding will continue to burn in the hearts of young and old, much like Hestia’s everlasting hearth.
Additionally, feel free to explore our blog, where you can read more about popular book series, including the Game of Thrones books, the Harry Potter book series review, and The Twisted book series.
