There’s a lot to love in Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series: wisecracks, adventures, and awesome powers—it’s a young reader’s dream!
Though it’s aimed at a younger audience, the series has been a hit for a lot of adults, bringing a fresh take on modern fantasy fiction. Imagine if Greek mythology were real, and gods and goddesses lived secretly, just below our mundane society. You never know, your best friend might just be a satyr in disguise, waiting to tell you that your dad’s one of the Greek gods!
It’s proven to be such a highly entertaining concept that Riordan’s made some spin-offs involving Roman, Egyptian, and Norse mythology.
Books Like Percy Jackson to Continue the Adventure
If you’ve ever discovered a series you couldn’t put down, you know what it’s like to burn through books and eagerly await the next one. If you’re currently in that stage with Percy Jackson, then we’re here to help! Below is a list of books matching the tone, humor, and spirit that’s made the series an overwhelming success.
1. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
For fans of fairy tales.
At just 12 years old, Artemis Fowl is already a criminal mastermind. He’s discovered a whole new world underground— one populated by dangerous, technologically-advanced fairies. After kidnapping one for a large ransom of gold, he might have just bitten off more than he could chew this time. Is he about to start a cross-species war?
2. Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
For fans of comedy-horror.
Stephanie’s uncle, a horror writer, dies and leaves her his estate. When a mysterious man breaks into her new home and tries to kill her, she is saved by an arrogant, wise-cracking, magic-slinging detective—who just so happens to be a walking, talking skeleton. What her uncle writes about might not be entirely fiction.
3. The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan
For fans of fantasy.
Will always dreamed of being a knight, but he’s always been too small, even for his age. Apprenticed to the Rangers—who are rumored to dabble with magic and become invisible, Will begins to learn archery, espionage, and the art of being unseen. When an exiled lord starts a war, Will’s newly acquired skills could be what save the kingdom.
4. Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
For fans of the world-beneath-the-earth trope.
Eleven-year-old Gregor falls into an old grate in his building’s basem*nt and finds himself in the Underland, a subterranean world populated by humans with near-translucent skin and sentient bats, rodents, and insects. War is brewing, and Gregor seems to be the prophesied savior the humans are waiting for.
5. The Fairy-Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley
For fans of the Brothers Grimm.
Orphans Sabrina and Daphne Grimm are sent to live with their grandmother, whom they thought was dead. They soon learn that they’re descendants of the famous Brothers Grimm, and their fairy tales are actually a case file of real monsters. When a giant is let loose and kidnaps their grandmother, it’s up to the sisters to save the day.
6. The Colossus Rises by Peter Lerangis
For readers interested in the seven wonders of the world.
Jack’s going to die in six months. That is, unless he can find the seven magic loculi hidden in the seven wonders of the ancient world. Transported to a mysterious island by an equally mysterious organization that promises to save their lives, Jack and three other kids agree to find and unite the seven lost loculi. But their lives might not be only thing they need to save.
7. Atlantis Rising by T.A. Barron
For readers interested in the story of Atlantis.
The magical land of Ellegandia is ravaged by an ages-old war fought in the spirit realm and the human world. Promi and Atlanta, two children vow to save their home no matter the cost. But their promise could have effects that they never anticipated—the creation of Atlantis, an island cut off from the world, where magic is well and truly alive.
8. Frostborn by Lou Anders
For fans of Norse mythology.
Karn, a farm boy who’s only good at playing board games, and Thianna, a human-giantess hybrid, are unexpectedly drawn together due to family intrigues. Fleeing in the wilderness together, they evade undead warriors, an evil uncle, deadly soldiers, and a dragon as they figure out a way to save their families from harm.
9. The Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes
For fans of Mayan mythology.
Zane Obispo spends most of his time exploring the sleeping volcano in his backyard. When a new girl at school informs him that the volcano is actually the prison of the Mayan god of death, Zane is introduced to a new world full of danger and magic. He’s at the center of a prophecy that could result in the destruction of the world. How’s he going to survive when he can’t even walk without his cane?
10. The Serpent’s Secret by Sayantani DasGupta
For fans of Indian mythology.
All her life, her parents told Kiranmala that she was an Indian princess and not from this world. She’s never believed them, of course. But when her 12th birthday comes, her parents disappear, and a demon slams into their kitchen, intent on eating her. Diving into another land, Kiranmala, with two handsome princes, tries to rescue her parents and save the world.
11. The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste
For fans of Caribbean folklore.
Corrine La Mer always believed the Jumbies were just stories parents make up to scare their children. When a beautiful stranger suddenly turns up at her house, Corrine knows something’s up. She’ll have to rely on her courage and the magical abilities she never knew she had to save her island home from the Jumbies.
12. The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi
For fans of Jumanji.
Twelve-year-old Farah and her two friends find themselves trapped inside a mechanical board game called the The Gauntlet. They’ll have to evade traps and beat the game’s many challenges to escape. If they fail, they’ll be trapped forever, and so will the other children who’ve played the game before.
13. Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee
For fans of science fiction.
Min is a fox spirit, but her mother insists she keep her abilities an absolute secret. Feeling trapped, she dreams of leaving the planet and joining the Space Forces, just like her brother Jun. When Jun is suspected of abandoning his post in search of the mysterious Dragon Pearl, Min decides to run away and clear his name.
14. Charlie Hernandez and the League of Shadowsby Ryan Calejo
For fans of Latin mythology.
Charlie Hernandez has an almost encyclopedic knowledge of Latin myths, thanks to his love for his culture and his abuela‘s stories. When he begins to experience freakish body transformations—such as growing wings and horns—Charlie is introduced to a world where every mythological creature he knows is real. And all of them seem to know more about him than he knows about himself!
15. Mark of the Thief by Jennifer A. Nielsen
For fans of Roman history.
Nic, a slave, is forced into a sealed cavern, where he discovers an amulet that once belonged to Julius Caesar. Filled with powerful magic once reserved for gods, Nic plans to use it to escape a life of slavery. He soon finds himself in the center of a conspiracy meant to destroy Rome from within. If he wants to live, he must harness the amulet’s power to take on Rome’s most powerful and savage leaders.
Books for Percy Jackson Fans
Technically, books like these are marketed for younger people but still gain a lot of popularity even in older demographics. That’s not a diss on older people who read books for children. It’s proof that stories are a universal source of enjoyment for anyone and everyone.
If you’ve recently finished Rick Riordan’s series and are suffering from book withdrawal, feel free to check out the books in this list! The great news is that all of them are part of a series too, so you’ll get a large amount of reading material to tide you over until your book hangover passes.
Do you have a favorite book that’s just like the Percy Jackson series? Share it in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- 20 Best Fantasy Books That Will Thrill Your Imagination
- 14 Best Webcomics to Read Right Now
- 14 Books Like The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
Cole Salao
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
