Editors Reads
FantasyChildren's FictionYoung Adult

Rick Riordan

American · b. 1964

13 books reviewed Avg rating 4.4 / 5Top rating 4.7 / 5

Mark Twain Award, Quill Award

Rick Riordan is an American author whose Percy Jackson series brought Greek mythology to life for young readers, creating one of the most beloved children's fantasy franchises of the century.

Rick Riordan created Percy Jackson almost accidentally — originally inventing the character to help his dyslexic, ADHD son engage with mythology. The result was The Lightning Thief, which launched a series that has sold hundreds of millions of copies and introduced classical mythology to an entire generation of young readers. The five Percy Jackson books, culminating with The Last Olympian, follow the half-blood son of Poseidon through escalating battles with Greek monsters and Olympian politics, with humor, action, and genuine heart woven throughout.

Riordan writes with an instinctive understanding of middle-grade sensibilities. Percy’s voice is funny without being arch, the mythology is adapted with care and creativity, and the books are genuinely educational without feeling like it. The series handles dyslexia and ADHD not as limitations but as traits that are reframed as divine gifts — a messaging decision that has resonated deeply with many young readers. By the time readers reach The Battle of the Labyrinth and The Last Olympian, the series has built into something emotionally satisfying.

Adult readers may find the prose thin and the plotting mechanical compared to more literary fantasy. But that misses the point. As children’s fiction — pacy, funny, mythologically rich, and inclusive — the Percy Jackson series is exceptional, and its influence on how young people relate to classical literature is difficult to overstate.


Reading Guides

13 Books Reviewed

The House of Hades book cover

The House of Hades

by Rick Riordan

4.7

Percy and Annabeth fall into Tartarus while their friends fight to close the Doors of Death from the mortal side. Both storylines push the series into darker territory, with character revelations that changed how the fandom understood these heroes.

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The Mark of Athena book cover

The Mark of Athena

by Rick Riordan

4.6

The seven demigods of the Prophecy finally unite aboard the Argo II for a dangerous quest to Rome. Annabeth carries the burden of a solo quest following the Mark of Athena — a path that no child of Athena has survived — while the team races to prevent war between Greek and Roman demigods.

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The Son of Neptune book cover

The Son of Neptune

by Rick Riordan

4.5

Percy Jackson wakes up with no memory at a Roman demigod camp. With new friends Hazel Levesque and Frank Zhang — both carrying heavy secrets — Percy must journey to Alaska to free the god of death and stop a giant army from destroying Camp Jupiter.

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The Blood of Olympus book cover

The Blood of Olympus

by Rick Riordan

4.4

The final prophecy reaches its climax as the seven demigods race to Athens to face the Giants and prevent Gaea from awakening. The conclusion resolves five books of buildup and sends Percy and Annabeth's story in a new direction.

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The Serpent's Shadow book cover

The Serpent's Shadow

by Rick Riordan

4.4

Carter and Sadie face the final battle: Apophis is about to rise and consume the sun itself. They must bring Ra back at full power and deploy a shadow magic that has never successfully worked — while their entire network of nome magicians faces obliteration. The Kane Chronicles comes to its conclusion.

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The Lost Hero book cover

The Lost Hero

by Rick Riordan

4.3

Jason wakes up on a school bus with no memory of who he is. Piper and Leo think he's their friend, but nothing about his past is real. Drawn into the world of Greek and Roman demigods, Jason must discover his true identity while leading a quest to free the goddess Hera and prevent an ancient enemy from waking.

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The Throne of Fire book cover

The Throne of Fire

by Rick Riordan

4.3

Carter and Sadie have three days to find the three sections of the Book of Ra and awaken the sun god before the chaos serpent Apophis escapes his prison. Racing against a countdown across multiple continents, the Kane siblings fight gods, demons, and each other's stubborn pride.

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The Red Pyramid book cover

The Red Pyramid

by Rick Riordan

4.2

Carter and Sadie Kane discover they are descended from the most powerful magicians in ancient Egypt. When their father accidentally unleashes the chaos god Set, the siblings must master Egyptian magic fast enough to prevent Set from destroying the world — and find out why their family has been lying to them.

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Reading Guides & Lists

Frequently Asked Questions

What order should I read Rick Riordan books?

Start with The Lightning Thief (2005), the first Percy Jackson and the Olympians novel. After completing that 5-book series, continue with The Heroes of Olympus, then The Trials of Apollo. The Kane Chronicles (Egyptian mythology) and Magnus Chase (Norse mythology) are standalone series that can be read in any order.

Are all Rick Riordan books in the same universe?

The Percy Jackson, Heroes of Olympus, and Trials of Apollo series share characters and a universe. The Kane Chronicles and Magnus Chase crossover with the Percy Jackson universe in companion novellas. The Nico di Angelo and Will Solace standalone novel also fits within this world.

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