Books Like Percy Jackson:
18 Super Series To Read Next
by Devon A. Corneal
There’s a lot for young readers to love in Rick Riordan’s novels — wise-cracking kid protagonists with cool powers, modern life layered with ancient myths, seemingly impossible quests, and insurmountable odds — and kids burn through them faster than he can pen new ones. If you know a middle grade reader who has already finished the entire Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, tackled the Kane Chronicles, and caught up with the latest Magnus Chase book … never fear, we’re here to help! We’ve picked a few series featuring a new cast of characters that are sure to help tide over even the most dedicated of Percy Jackson fans.
Please note: retail buttons will direct you to the first book in the series.
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Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Chalice of the Gods
Available from:While not a read-alike, we'd be remiss if we didn't share news about the next book in the Riordanverse. Over a decade after the release of The Last Olympian, Percy, Grover, and Annabeth reunite in a new action-packed adventure. Percy needs three recommendation letters from the gods to attend New Rome University; for that, the Golden Trio will have to complete three quests.
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An Epic Series of Failures Series
Available from:For Percy Jackson fans who appreciate a little humor with their action, Greg Belmont is their guy. Self-effacing and generally unlucky, Greg is shocked when his lovably eccentric dad reveals to Greg that he’s a Dwarf — and that magic is coming back. Greg learns about his heritage from other Dwarves that gather in the Underground, but it’s not all one happy family: with the return of magic, the Elves are back too, and so is the age-old war between the two groups.
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The Wingfeather Saga Series
Available from:I’m partial to a cast of scrappy, loyal siblings, and The Wingfeather Saga delivers. Janner, Tink, and Leeli Igiby live in a war-torn world, and they’ll have to muster all their courage and combined talents if they’re going to defeat the malicious Fangs of Dang. High fantasy with a little quirk (the author’s cited both The Lord of the Rings and The Princess Bride as inspiration), this four-book saga is sure to entertain.
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Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Being Good
Available from:Though not a series, this book is a must-read for fans of Percy Jackson. When King Odin grows tired of Loki’s pranks, he banishes him to Earth to live as a human. While there, Loki must keep a journal and put up with the annoying god Thor (also trapped on Earth). Most importantly, he must never use his godly powers. This hilarious diary-style book combines Norse mythology with the humor and doodles of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
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Rick Riordan Presents: Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky — A Tristan Strong Novel, Book 1
Available from:Young readers will obsess over this action-packed novel about a boy named Tristan who accidentally creates a hole in the sky. On the other side lies a world filled with legends, monsters, and trickster gods. Tristan must navigate this treacherous realm, patch the hole, and get home in one piece.
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Will Wilder Series
Available from:Twelve-year-olds get into a lot of trouble, but not many of them manage to unleash an ancient enemy determined to destroy their hometown. Although, when the name of your town is “Perilous Falls,” bad things are bound to happen. Thank goodness Will Wilder has his great-aunt Lucille to help him fix things. She may look sweet, but she’s deadly and happens to be the curator of a museum of supernatural artifacts. Demons and monsters, beware!
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Addison Cooke Series
Available from:I kid you not, my son read this book in two days. It was the first book he deemed worthy of the devotion he showed to Percy Jackson and Rick Riordan’s multiple universes. So thank you, Addison Cooke and your Incan adventures, for reminding me that action, humor, and a sarcastic 12-year-old boy is all a parent needs to remind her son why he loves to read. The second and third books in the series, Addison Cooke and The Tomb of Khan and Addison Cooke and the Ring of Destiny, are full of even more adventure!
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When You Trap a Tiger
Available from:Desperate to rescue her grandmother from her failing health, Lily makes a deal with a magical tiger from Korean folklore. This bestselling novel won the Newbery Medal and is the perfect follow-up for kids who devoured the Percy Jackson series and want something lighter but still rooted in folklore.
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The Girl of Ink & Stars
Available from:Get ready for a breathtaking journey through a monster-infested wilderness with this award-winning novel. Isabella Riosse harnesses her knowledge of the stars and her late father’s ink maps to guide a search party through the wastelands beyond her city. Myths, legends, and adventure await!
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Knights of the Borrowed Dark Series
Raised as an orphan, Denizen Hardwick is thrown for a loop when he’s taken from Crosscaper Orphanage in the dark of night, with claims of a long-lost aunt awaiting him. But before Denizen can even meet this so-called relative, he makes some world-upending discoveries, of shadow monsters and a secret order of knights. Can Denizen trust what he’s told — and more importantly, that he’s with the good guys?
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Lei and the Fire Goddess
Available from:Twelve-year-old Leilani never believed her family’s folktales of gods and curses — that is until she accidentally offends the god Pele who retaliates by kidnapping Lei’s best friend! Now Lei will have to battle mythical creatures (and team up with a talking bat) in order to save her friends and family. But if she has any real chance at success, she will need to explore her Hawaiian roots and embrace who she really is.
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The Chronicles of Egg Series
Available from:Rick Riordan himself is a fan of this swashbuckling series; he calls it “Lemony Snicket meets Pirates of the Caribbean, with a sprinkling of Tom Sawyer for good measure.” On the glamorous Sunrise Island (anything looks glamorous after growing up on Deadweather Island), poor Egg finds himself the bullseye of a death target, surrounded by pirates and other assorted villains. That he has stuff to save himself — and go on to more adventures — comes as no small surprise to Egg himself.
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Spellbinders: The Not-So-Chosen-One
Available from:Action, adventure, and role-playing games take center stage in this funny book about a boy who lies about being “the chosen one.” Eager for friendship, Ben jumps at the chance to go on a quest with Lux, a girl who looks like a character from one of his games. But as Ben and Lux get further into their quest, the game starts to feel too real to be make-believe.
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Atlantis Saga Series
Available from:We’ve covered mythology across the globe and sought out Incan treasures — but let’s not forget about the Lost City of Atlantis. The first book in the Atlantis Saga series opens in Ellegandia, where a young boy named Promi and his friend Atlanta join together to save their home from the ravages of a war between the spirit and human worlds.
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Gods of Manhattan Series
Available from:New York City is cool, but nothing special, right? That’s what Rory Hennessy thought until he discovers Mannahatta, a parallel city existing with Manhattan that’s filled with magic and mystery and ruled by the Gods of Manhattan, which, oddly enough, include Babe Ruth. When Rory is asked to right a great wrong, things become more dangerous than he ever imagined.
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Skyriders
Available from:With her uncle injured in battle, Kie is the only person who can defeat the chimerae attacking the kingdom’s villages. Kie and her winged horse must go to the capital, win the royal family’s trust, and pass on her knowledge. This heart-pounding fantasy adventure will be a sure-fire win with Percy Jackson fans.
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Pandava Series
Available from:Aru Shah and the End of Time kicks off this fantasy trilogy that follow the 12-year-old titular character who spends her time at the Museum of Ancient Indian Art and Culture, waiting for her mom to come home from her latest archeological trip and making up stories about a fantasy life.
When three classmates don't believe her claim that the Lamp of Bharata is cursed, Aru lights it and releases the Sleeper, an ancient demon whose job is to awaken the God of Destruction. She knows how to stop the demon, but how is one girl supposed to find the reincarnations of the five legendary Pandava brothers and journey through the Kingdom of Death? You won't want to miss the epic start to this series, and the following two books.
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Heroes of Havensong Series
Available from:An ancient prophecy brings four kids together to save magic from extinction and their world from collapse. Bound together by the literal threads of Fate, the friends must overcome their prejudices and find a way to end the war that has ravaged their kingdoms for centuries.
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Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind
Available from:When creatures from her mother’s stories appear at the shopping mall, Momo’s hopes for a normal life vanish. Suddenly, Momo finds herself on a quest to save the earth from an invasion of evil spirits. As Momo and her friends search for a solution to their problem, she learns to embrace the oddities of her life and the advantages they give her. Being a half-goddess comes with some pretty amazing powers.
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2017 and updated in 2023.