Books Like Percy Jackson & the Olympians
by Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson & the Olympians hooks on a simple, defining mechanism: ancient Greek gods and monsters are alive in the present day, and one ordinary kid — first‑person, sarcastic, fast-talking Percy — discovers he’s a demigod and must complete quest-shaped missions to survive. The series pairs myth-transposition (gods in modern NYC, monsters on school buses) with a steady quest structure: short chapters, cliffhanger beats, set-piece fights, and a clear goal for each book while a larger prophecy arc builds across the series.
Readers come to Percy for different reasons. Some loved Riordan’s voice — teenage snark that keeps exposition light and jokes landing even during life-or-death scenes. Others were hooked by the creative reworking of Greek myths into schoolyards, airports and theme parks. Still others stayed for the ensemble chemistry — a found-family of misfit kids whose friendships and rivalries drive emotional stakes as much as sword fights. The nine picks below are chosen to match one or more of those axes (voice, myth-modern mashup, quest pacing, or ensemble dynamics) and each note explains which element it shares and where it diverges.
Recommended for fans of Percy Jackson & the Olympians
The Red Pyramid
Rick Riordan
Modern-mythology adventure with snarky narration and sibling heroes.
Pick this if you want another Riordan series that transposes an ancient pantheon into the present with the same snappy humor and sibling/ensemble dynamics.
The Sword of Summer
Rick Riordan
Norse-myth quest, fast pacing, witty teen protagonist.
Pick this if you enjoyed Percy’s quest rhythm and quick‑witted protagonist and want that exact formula applied to Norse gods and monsters.
Artemis Fowl
Eoin Colfer
Clever, humorous YA heist with mythic fairy elements and slick pacing.
Pick this if you liked the smart‑aleck tone and fast pacing but don't need the myth fidelity — this is a looser fit on mythology, more focused on clever plots and heist-style schemes.
Fablehaven
Brandon Mull
Hidden magical preserve, creature encounters, and family-centered adventure.
Pick this if the creature-encounters and family-centered adventure mattered most to you; it's closer on tone and ensemble than on myth-source material.
The Graveyard Book
Neil Gaiman
Whimsical, eerie coming-of-age quest with mythic touches and dark humor.
Pick this if you appreciated the mix of humor and darker mythic touches but want a more lyrical, slightly older feel; it's a mood match rather than a mythology match.
The Dark Is Rising
Susan Cooper
Epic British quest blending modern kids with ancient mythic forces.
Pick this if you want a modern-child-meets-ancient-magic quest with slow-building mythic stakes; it shares the classic quest structure though its tone is more solemn in places.
Skulduggery Pleasant
Derek Landy
Snappy, irreverent urban fantasy pairing a teen with a supernatural mentor.
Pick this if you liked the banter-filled pairing of a teen with an unusual mentor and want sharp humor plus magical investigations in an urban setting.
City of Bones
Cassandra Clare
Modern monster-hunting, fast action, found-family dynamics.
Pick this if the fast action and found-family dynamics were your favorite parts; expect urban fantasy pacing and lots of ensemble banter rather than straight myth retellings.
The School for Good and Evil
Soman Chainani
Fairy-tale twists, strong friendship themes, and adventure-driven plot.
Pick this if you cared most about friendship, moral choices and adventure-driven plot; it's more fairy‑tale riffing than classical-myth adaptation, so consider it a thematic rather than a literal match.
At a glance
Matches prioritize three dimensions central to Percy Jackson: a modern-myth mashup, a first‑person witty teen narrator, and quest-driven pacing with a strong ensemble. Each recommendation lists which of those elements it shares and where it departs.
| Book | First published | Pages | Closest match on | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Red Pyramid Rick Riordan | 2010 | 530 | Modern-myth adventure | 92% |
The Sword of Summer Rick Riordan | 2015 | 512 | Norse-myth questing | 90% |
Artemis Fowl Eoin Colfer | 1999 | 288 | Clever, humorous heist | 82% |
Fablehaven Brandon Mull | 2006 | 344 | Hidden magical preserve | 80% |
The Graveyard Book Neil Gaiman | 2008 | 304 | Whimsical, eerie coming‑of‑age | 78% |
The Dark Is Rising Susan Cooper | 1972 | 256 | Epic British quest | 76% |
Skulduggery Pleasant Derek Landy | 2006 | 368 | Snappy urban fantasy duo | 74% |
City of Bones Cassandra Clare | 2007 | 512 | Modern monster-hunting | 72% |
The School for Good and Evil Soman Chainani | 2007 | 496 | Fairy-tale friendship arcs | 70% |
About Percy Jackson & the Olympians
The Percy Jackson & the Olympians series began with The Lightning Thief (2005) and was published 2005–2009. Rick Riordan adapted Greek mythology into a contemporary middle-grade/YA quest format, spawning multiple spin-offs and establishing his reputation for humorous, mythology-driven adventure.
Frequently asked questions
What should I read after finishing Percy Jackson?+
If you want more from Riordan’s take on myths, try his other mythology series — for Norse myth, The Sword of Summer; for Egyptian myth, The Red Pyramid. Both keep the humorous, quest-driven tone and teen protagonists.
Which picks have the same narrator voice as Percy?+
Rick Riordan’s own titles (The Red Pyramid, The Sword of Summer) use similar snarky, first‑person or close‑third teen perspectives. Other books on the list echo the irreverent humor but not always the exact voice.
Are these recommendations suitable for middle-grade readers?+
Most are middle‑grade or YA-appropriate in tone and content. Riordan’s own books and many on the list are targeted at readers roughly 9–14, though some skew slightly older in theme.
I loved the modern myths — which pick matches that best?+
Riordan’s The Red Pyramid and The Sword of Summer are the closest matches: both transpose ancient pantheons into the present day and keep a comic, quest-driven style.
Do any of these focus more on ensemble friendships?+
Yes: several picks emphasize found-family and team dynamics. Riordan’s own series keep that front-and-center, and titles like Fablehaven and Skulduggery Pleasant also foreground partnerships and banter among core groups.
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