Percy Jackson is a funny, engaging hero on a classic hero’s journey. Kids can’t put this book series down. It’s mythological, magical, and totally addictive. But if you’re done with the series, don’t despair, there are so many fantastic books you can read next.
*As far as the new imprint from Rick Riordan with mythological titles, unfortunately, the three I’ve read so far were just so-so to me with some unlikable characters and slow pacing. (Dragon Pearl, Aru Shah, and The Storm Runner.)
If You Like Percy Jackson, Read These Riordan Books Next
What should you read next? Rick Riordan has MORE mythological books so we’ll start with those first…
The Heroes of Olympus: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
If you liked the adventure in the Greek myths, you’ll also love the Roman myths with a new hero named Jason — a kid who has no memory. He ends up at Camp Half-Blood but is from the Roman, not Greek, pantheon. You’ll like the familiar characters from the Percy Jackson books along with the new characters and exciting, dangerous adventures.
The Trials of Apollo: The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan
If you’re a Riordan fan, you’ll know that he specializes in interesting chapter titles. In this book, the chapter titles are haikus!! Because this book is about Apollo who is the god of poetry, among other things and is now a human. The tone of this book is slightly different than Riordan’s other series since we’re seeing things from Apollo’s arrogant but bewildered perspective — which somehow Riordan makes appealing to readers. (A hard task to be sure!) As the misadventures ensue (because life is hard when you have no godly powers anymore,) Apollo begins to see himself as less than perfect. In this story, we meet new demigods such as Demeter’s daughter Meg and encounter familiar favorites like Percy Jackson.
The Kane Chronicles: Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
Explore Egyptian mythology with siblings who are targets of the god Set and on a dangerous quest to figure out what is really going on. My oldest daughter loved this entire series. I find Egyptian mythology creepy so while I thought the book was well-written and fast-paced, it wasn’t my favorite.
Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan
Magnus is a smart and snarky kid who is thrust into a crazy situation — the Norse world of which he’s apart since (surprise!) his dad is Frey. When Magnus dies at the beginning of the story, he’s taken to Valhalla, one of the Norse Mythology afterlife locations. Don’t worry–he won’t stay there long. He decides that despite the risks, he must find his dad’s missing sword somewhere in the Nine Worlds. UPDATE: I didn’t love the 2nd book. The writing was sluggish and the plot didn’t grab my attention.
If You Like Percy Jackson, Here’s What to Read Next
Moving on from Riordan books, you’ll want more hero’s journey with mythology and adventure. See what you think about these…
Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman
What a fantastic book by the uber-talented Neil Gaiman! A boy named Odd is given the mission is to save Asgard from the invading Frost Giants. Ultimately, it’s a compelling story that will be a fascinating introduction to Norse mythology.
Baba Yaga’s Assistant by Marika McCoola, illustrated by Emily Carroll
Courageous and adventurous Masha knows Baba Yaga from her grandmother’s stories. After her grandmother dies, and her father remarries, Masha decides to become Baba Yaga’s assistant. To pass Baba Yaga’s tests, Masha uses her wits and the stories from her grandmother. She thinks she will fail when she rescues three children from Baba Yaga’s cage but she passes. To sum up, excellent storytelling and illustrations will enthrall readers in this not-your-average fairy tale story.
Thrones and Bones: Frostborn series by Lou Anders (Nightborn #2 and Frostborn #1)
Get to know your Norse mythology in this series. A boy named Karn who is only good at playing a Norse board game and a girl named Thianna who is a half-human, half-giantess unexpectedly partner with each other in order to survive deadly soldiers, undead warriors, trolls, and a dragon. I recommend using the glossary while you read because this is packed with lots of Norse words you might not know.
The Serpent’s Secret(Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond #1) by Sayantani Dasgupta
This story pulls you in from the first page. Kiranmala discovers on her 12th birthday that she’s a princess from another realm and her parents are trapped in a black hole-type place. But there’s a lot more she’ll learn — like who her real parents are (yikes!) and that demons can be your friends. The prince’s demon grandma, Ai-Ma, is my FAVORITE character. She says things like, “Be good, sweet beetle-dung toadstools.” But Kiranmala’s adoptive parents are super awesome, too. I think you’ll love every second of this entertaining, Indian mythology adventure.
The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer
Fairy tales come alive when Alex and Conner (brother and sister) find themselves in the fairy tale book given to them by their grandmother. Their only way home is to find the ingredients for a Wishing Spell. Finding them will be dangerous, mysterious, and life-changing. Although it’s not mythological, it’s a must-read adventure series of two heroes that will keep readers reading for many months! BOX SET HERE.
The Ruins of Gorlan: Ranger’s Apprentice book 1 by John A. Flanagan
Will is apprenticed to become a Ranger, a job he’s unsure about. But as he develops a relationship with his master and learns what being a Ranger is all about (spying for the kingdom,) he comes to embrace his new life. But when an old enemy of the kingdom sends out dangerous beasts to attack Will’s master, Will is instrumental in getting help and killing the creatures. Action, fantasy, adventure, friendship, excellent writing — this book has it all! It’s a must-read that will mesmerize your readers, especially boys who love epic fantasy adventures. BOX SET
The Lost Years: Book 1 (Merlin) by T.A. Barron
If you love the lore of Merlin and Arthur, you’ll want to read about Merlin’s growing up years. Filled with magic, runes, and dragons, this is a captivating story and one of my favorite fantasy series.
Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
I stayed up all night to finish this book. To sum up in one word: fantastic! Twelve-year-old Sophie has never quite fit into her life. And Sophie has a secret—she’s a Telepath and not human. She must leave the human world for the Elvin world where she’ll face danger from both the human and Elvin worlds. Her only hope is to regain the memories of her past. BOXED SET.
Kingdom Keepers series by Ridley Pearson
My daughter loved this series but I have to admit it had too many main characters for me so I didn’t enjoy it as much as she did. However, if you like Disney and non-stop adventure, you’ll like these books. Our main characters who are teenagers protect the park against the evil Disney villains. At least they will try. Because catching the bad guys isn’t always easy.
Mark of the Thief by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Set in historical Rome, follow the life of a slave who was abandoned by his mother to work the mines. After he accidentally discovers Julius Cesar’s magical amulet and it’s protector griffin, he’s in constant danger. It’s an exciting adventure with unexpected revelations that will have you eager for the next book. (Even though the first book is a cliff-hanger, the good news is that book 2 and 3 are already published!)
The Best Greek Mythology Books for Kids
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