3 Ways to Read All 30+ Percy Jackson Books in Order by Rick Riordan

Whether you have been around since the first book in 2005, or have recently been drawn into this massive book series with the tidal surge of new and exciting additions, you’re looking to get caught up on all the Percy Jackson books in order. With new books and a new adaptation on the horizon, now is the perfect time to get caught up on the three ways to read this series.

About Rick Riordan

Rick Riordan is the author behind the bestselling Percy Jackson series, which has inspired multiple sequels and spin-off series. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief was his first young adult novel, but Riordan cut his teeth in publishing by writing adult mystery novels.

That series, the Tres Navarre books, have won multiple awards throughout the years. Riordan has since written several other series in addition to his Percy Jackson universe as well. However, before he became a bestselling and award-winning author, Riordan taught English and history at public and private middle schools.

The inception of the Percy Jackson series began as a story he told his son. As a teacher, Riordan knew a lot about Greek mythology and he enjoyed talking about it. He was telling his son stories from the Greek myths, and when he ran out of old myths, he started to create a new one concerning a young boy named Percy Jackson.

Riordan’s son was struggling at school with dyslexia and ADHD, but he had inherited his father’s passion for Greek mythology. So, in Riordan’s new myth about a young boy named Percy Jackson, he also had ADHD and anxiety, which are indicators that he is a demigod. Riordan says his son had no trouble believing that.

Millions of children around the world also did not have difficulty believing in Riordan’s inclusive premise. He says that is the core of the Percy Jackson books, to help kids who are feeling like outsiders to feel included and to recognize their difference as a strength.

Collectively, Riordan has sold more than 190 million copies of his books around the world in more than 42 languages.

What (or Who) is Percy Jackson?

These middle grade books are similar to Harry Potter or Artemis Fowl. The original series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, follows the adventures of a titular character Percy Jackson. However, there are also other series that take place in the same universe, which follow companions of Percy.

While Harry Potter encounters challenges in the Wizarding World and Artemis Fowl must confront fairies, Percy Jackson must accept his fate as the son of a Greek god.

In the first book of the series, which was Rick Riordan’s debut middle grade novel, Percy thought he was an ordinary boy and was trying to find his footing at boarding school. But things quickly turn strange, and Percy’s mother decides it’s finally time to tell him about who his father is.

Percy quickly goes from thinking he was an average young boy, to trying to wrap his head around Poseidon being his father. As a demigod, Percy finds himself thrust into an unfamiliar world with secrets lurking around every corner.

What about Rick Riordan’s Other Books?

In addition to Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Rick Riordan has written several other series. These include The Heroes of Olympus, The Kane Chronicles, Demigods and Magicians, Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, and The Trials of Apollo.

But if you’ve fallen in love with Percy Jackson and are hoping these books feature more Percy, you may be a little disappointed. That’s because while some of the books do give you more Percy, he isn’t the central character.

Other series, like the Kane Chronicles, Trials of Apollo, and Magnus Chase, don’t feature Percy at all. These books, however, are set in the same world. This means that names and places will be familiar.

However, let’s get on with our lists of the Percy Jackson books in order.

#1 – Percy Jackson Books in Order by Publication

The first way to read the Percy Jackson books in order is by following the order of publication. All of these books take place in the same universe, so while Percy may not be in all of the books, the setting will be familiar to you and some characters will be recognizable.

This reading order is the way many adoring fans first read the books throughout the years, so it is still an understandable way to want to experience the books. However, this reading order may feel disjointed to fans who are reading the books consecutively in 2023, rather than waiting six months to a year between new releases.

That is because Rick Riordan rotated through his multiple series as he was writing. So, this reading order will jump from one series to the next and follow new sets of characters.

If you’d prefer to see a list of Percy Jackson books in order by series, keep reading below.

But whether Riordan intended it or not, there are undoubtedly Easter eggs or nuggets of lore that you’ll by able to pick up on by reading the series this way, that you might not if you read the books by series.

Percy Jackson Books

1. The Lightning Thief (2005)
2. The Sea of Monsters (2006)
3. The Titan’s Curse (2007)
4. The Battle of the Labyrinth (2008)
5. The Last Olympian (2009)
6. The Demigod Files (2009) (Short Story Collection)
7. The Lost Hero (2010)
8. The Red Pyramid (2010)
9. The Throne of Fire (2011)
10. The Son of Neptune (2011)
11. The Serpent’s Shadow (2012)
12. The Demigod Diaries (2012) (Short Story Collection)
13. The Mark of Athena (2012)
14. The Son of Sobek (2013) (Short Story)
15. The Singer of Apollo (2013) (Short Story)
16. The House of Hades (2013)
17. The Staff of Serapis (2014)
18. The Blood of Olympus (2014)
19. The Crown of Ptolemy (2015) (Short Story)
20. The Sword of Summer (2015)
21. The Hidden Oracle (2016)
22. The Hammer of Thor (2016)
23. The Dark Prophecy (2017)
24. The Ship of the Dead (2017)
25. The Burning Maze (2018)
26. 9 From the Nine Worlds (2018) (Short Story Collection)
27. The Tyrant’s Tomb (2019)
28. The Tower of Nero (2020)
29. The Sun and the Star (w/ Mark Oshiro) (2023)
30. The Chalice of the Gods (September 2023)
31. Wrath of the Triple Goddess (Expected: September 24, 2024)

Companion Books/Stories

1. Percy Jackson and the Greek Gods
2. Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes
3. Hotel Valhalla: Guide to the Norse Worlds
4. The Trials of Apollo: Camp Jupiter Classified: A Probatio’s Journal

#2 – Percy Jackson Books in Order by Series

Of course, the main reason that you would prefer to read the Percy Jackson books in order by series is for consistency. With this reading order you will not be hopping between characters and places. Instead, you will be able to follow one group of characters and their story arc until its completion.

That means this is the simplest and the most recommended way to read the Percy Jackson books in order. This will be a slightly different reading experience compared to original readers, but it will be a more cohesive way to experience the world and its characters.

There also should not be any spoilers for books in other series if you follow this reading order. However, I haven’t read all of Rick Riordan’s books, so I can’t say for 100% sure.

Percy Jackson & The Olympians

1. The Lightning Thief
2. The Sea of Monsters
3. The Titan’s Curse
4. The Battle of the Labyrinth
5. The Last Olympian
6. The Demigod Files (Short Story Collection)
7. The Singer of Apollo (Short Story)
8. The Chalice of the Gods
9. Wrath of the Triple Goddess (Expected: September 24, 2024)

The Heroes of Olympus

1. The Lost Hero
2. The Son of Neptune
3. The Mark of Athena
4. The House of Hades
5. The Blood of Olympus
6. The Demigod Diaries (Short Story Collection)

The Kane Chronicles

1. The Red Pyramid
2. The Throne of Fire
3. The Serpent’s Shadow

Demigods and Magicians

1. The Son of Sobek (Short Story)
2. The Staff of Serapis (Short Story)
3. The Crown of Ptolemy (Short Story)

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard

1. The Sword of Summer
2. The Hammer of Thor
3. The Ship of the Dead
4. 9 From the Nine Worlds (Short Story Collection)

The Trials of Apollo

1. The Hidden Oracle
2. The Dark Prophecy
3. The Burning Maze
4. The Tyrant’s Tomb
5. The Tower of Nero

Nico di Angelo and Will Solace

1. The Sun and the Star (w/ Mark Oshiro) (2023)

#3 – Percy Jackson Books in Chronological Order

Then finally, the third way to experience the Percy Jackson books in order is by following the chronological timeline. However, this isn’t the best way to read the read the series for the first time.

That’s because the flow may feel disrupted with the short stories that are scattered throughout the timeline. As well, since Riordan was writing multiple series over the span of many years, there is overlap throughout the universe with events taking place at the same time. Some of the short stories are also hard to place within the timeline, because trying to line up seasons, ages, and events within the overall timeline with the main books can be challenging.

However, if you read the Percy Jackson books for the first time in publication order or following their release in series order, this can be a new way to experience the books with Riordan so recently returning to the original characters that started it all.

1. My Life as a Child Outlaw (Short Story)
2. Diary of Luke Castellan (Short Story)
3. The Lightning Thief – PJO #1
4. The Sea of Monsters – PJO #2
5. The Titan’s Curse – PJO #3
6. Percy Jackson and the Stolen Chariot (Short Story)
7. The Battle of the Labyrinth – PJO #4
8. Percy Jackson and the Sword of Hades (Short Story)
9. Percy Jackson and the Bronze Dragon (Short Story)
10. The Last Olympian – PJO #5
11. Percy Jackson and the Singer of Apollo (Short Story)
12. The Staff of Hermes (Short Story)
13. The Lost Hero – HOO #1
14. The Red Pyramid – KC #1
15. Leo Valdez and the Quest for Buford (Short Story)
16. The Throne of Fire – KC #2
17. Son of Magic (Short Story)
18. The Son of Neptune – HOO #2
19. Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods
20. The Mark of Athena – HOO #3
21. The House of Hades – HOO #4
22. The Blood of Olympus – HOO #5
23. The Serpent’s Shadow – KC #3
24. Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes
25. The Son of Sobek (Short Story)
26. The Staff of Serapis (Short Story)
27. The Crown of Ptolemy (Short Story)
28. The Chalice of the Gods – PJO #6
29. Wrath of the Triple Goddess – PJO #7 (Expected: September 24, 2024)
30. The Sword of Summer – MCGA #1 (Simultaneously as The Hidden Oracle)
31. The Hidden Oracle – ToA #1 (Simultaneously as The Sword of Summer)
32. The Dark Prophecy – ToA #2 (Simultaneously as The Hammer of Thor)
33. The Hammer of Thor – MCGA #2 (Simultaneously as The Dark Prophecy)
34. The Burning Maze – ToA #3
35. The Tyrant’s Tomb – ToA #4
36. The Ship of the Dead – MCGA #3 (Simultaneously as The Tower of Nero)
37. The Tower of Nero – ToA #5 (Simultaneously as The Ship of the Dead)
38. 9 from the Nine Worlds (Short Story Collection)
39. The Sun and the Star: A Nico di Angelo Adventure

Percy Jackson Adaptations

The original Percy Jackson movies have been largely criticized by fans, and Rick Riordan himself, for not being good adaptations. Riordan has publicly said that his creative input on the two movies was largely ignored.

He has assured fans that a repeat of the 2010 and 2013 movies will not be the case for the new Disney+ show which will premiere in December 2023. Riordan says that the show will finally deliver a faithful adaptation and that it is the depiction of Percy on screen that everyone has been waiting for.

The first adaptation premiered in 2010, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. It was directed by Chris Columbus with Craig Titley adapting the Riordan’s writing for screen.

The movie also featured a star studded cast with Kevin McKidd as Poseidon, Steve Coogan as Hades, Sean Bean as Zeus, Pierce Brosnan as Mr. Brunner and Chiron, Rosario Dawson as Persephone, Uma Thurman as Medusa, and more. Logan Lerman stars as Percy Jackson, Brandon T. Jackson as Grover, and Alexandra Daddario as Annabeth.

The main cast returned for the second movie adaptation in 2013, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters. Lerman, Daddario, and Jackson all reprised their leading roles. Nathan Fillion starred as Hermes, Stanley Tucci as Mr. D, and Chiron was recast with Anthony Head. The director was Thor Freudenthal and the writer was Marc Guggenheim.

One criticism the movie adaptations received is how the main trio was aged up for the screen. The new adaptation will remain true to the character’s ages in the books, with a younger trio cast.

Walker Scobell will star as Percy Jackson, Aryan Simhadri as Grover, and Leah Jeffries as Annabeth. Riordan has been involved creatively in this project since the very beginning. The show will premiere on December 20.

Percy Jackson Book Summaries

Below you will find the summaries for the first five Percy Jackson books in order. These are the first five books Rick Riordan ever wrote in this world and cover the original arc following Percy Jackson discovering his heritage and the battle against Kronos. So, that makes this the best place to begin reading these books for the first time, or a helpful refresher on the series.

Therefore, this is a great place for your Percy Jackson reading journey to begin. It is also a great refresher on the series if you have been anxiously awaiting The Chalice of the Gods for more than a decade.

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1. The Lightning Thief

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he’s struggling to focus and control his temper. Then, at boarding school, he swears his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. So when his mom finds out, she knows she needs to tell him the truth about his heritage and send him to where she knows he will be safe.

Which is how Percy ends up on Long Island at Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods. It is there that he learns the father he never knew is Poseidon, the God of the Sea. It doesn’t take long before Percy is trying to unravel a mystery, with the help of two new friends, and sets out on a quest across the United States to prevent an all-out war between the gods.

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2. The Sea of Monsters

So far, seventh grade has been quiet for Percy Jackson. But then he learns that the magical borders protecting Camp Half-Blood have been tampered with and the place is on the verge of being overrun by monsters.

Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson must retrieve the Golden Fleece from the Island of the Cyclopes, and also rescue their friend Grover who has been taken prisoner, if they want to save their safe haven. Otherwise, Camp Half-Blood will be destroyed.

But to do so they will need to traverse the Sea of Monsters that Greek heroes have been sailing across for millennia…except now it is known as the Bermuda Triangle. Then Percy finds out a new secret about his family that has him questioning whether being Poseidon’s son is an honor or a joke.

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3. The Titan’s Curse

Percy receives an urgent distress call from Grover and he needs to prepare for battle immediately. At his side are Annabeth and Thalia, two demigod allies, and his trusted sword, Riptide. Then, as they race to the rescue, Grover discovers two new powerful half-bloods with unknown heritage.

But the Titan lord Kronos is also waiting for them and he has set up a devious trap to ensnare the young heroes. Percy and his friends face the chilling prophecy of the Titan’s Curse. If they fail to rescue Artemis by the Winter Solstice everything will be lost, including Annabeth.

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4. The Battle of the Labyrinth

During Percy’s freshman orientation, a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears while being chased by demon cheerleaders and things quickly go from bad to worse.

War between the gods is also drawing near and time is running out for Percy. Kronos’ army is preparing to invade Camp Half-Blood’s once-impenetrable borders. So, if Percy and his friends want to stop them, they must adventure through the Labyrinth.

But the sprawling underground world has surprises and danger lurking behind every turn and throughout the quest, the final battle will begin. Percy must confront powerful enemies, find out the truth about the lost god Pan, and face Kronos’s terrible secret.

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5. The Last Olympian

The half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans all year, even though they know their chances of victory are grim. Meanwhile, the Olympians are struggling to contain the monster Typhon and Kronos has begun to advance on New York City.

This means Mount Olympus is virtually unguarded, so Percy and an army of young demigods must stop the Lord of Time. All the while, the long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy’s sixteenth birthday unfolds.

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Final thoughts on Percy Jackson books in order

Rick Riordan’s world of gods and heroes all begins with the original five Percy Jackson books in order. This makes it a great place to begin your journey into this world. The series was the origin or catalyst for millions of readers who developed a love and appreciation for Greek mythology.

More Middle Grade Fantasy Resources

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• 15 Books Like Percy Jackson to Read Next
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