15 Thrilling Books Like Percy Jackson for Mythology & Adventure Fans

Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson & the Olympians fundamentally changed children’s and middle-grade literature. By pairing ancient Greek myths with witty modern humor, relatable neurodivergent heroes, and adrenaline-pumping quests, the series hooked millions of readers who couldn’t put down The Lightning Thief.

Inevitably, young readers reach the final page of The Last Olympian and ask the same urgent question: What should I read next?

Whether your reader loved the sarcastic first-person humor, the ancient gods walking among modern humans, or the camaraderie of young demigods fighting impossible odds, there are fantastic series ready to fill the void.

In this curated guide, we present the 15 best books like Percy Jackson, organized by mythology, reading level, and thematic style—ensuring parents, educators, and middle-schoolers find their next favorite obsession.

Quick Answer: What to Read After Percy Jackson?

The appeal of Percy Jackson rests on a three-part formula:

1. Mythological worldbuilding hiding beneath modern daily life.

2. Humorous, self-deprecating protagonists facing life-or-death prophecy.

3. Fast-paced, episodic quest structures packed with monsters, puzzles, and loyalty.

Depending on which element resonated most with your young reader, here is a quick roadmap:

To understand how the reading levels of these titles compare against grade benchmarks, explore our comprehensive reading level comparison chart and our guide to Lexile levels by grade.

Top Books Like Percy Jackson by Mythology

If your reader fell in love with ancient lore coming alive in modern cities, these myth-driven series are the gold standard.

1. The Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan

• Mythology: Greek and Roman
• Lexile Measure: 640L – 700L
• Reading Level / AR: Level 4.5 – 5.2 (Grades 4–7)
• Age Range: 9 – 13 years
• First Book: The Lost Hero

The most direct continuation of Percy’s world. Beginning right after the Titan War, this five-book epic introduces Camp Jupiter (the Roman demigod sanctuary) and follows the Prophecy of Seven. Featuring alternating perspectives, it introduces beloved characters like Leo Valdez, Piper McLean, and Jason Grace while bringing Percy back into center stage.

2. The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan

• Mythology: Ancient Egyptian
• Lexile Measure: 650L – 710L
• Reading Level / AR: Level 4.8 – 5.3 (Grades 4–8)
• Age Range: 9 – 13 years
• First Book: The Red Pyramid

Siblings Carter and Sadie Kane discover they descend from ancient Egyptian pharaohs and magicians. When their father accidentally unleashes Set at the British Museum, the duo must master hieroglyphic combat and combat chaos gods across the globe. The dual first-person audio-diary format provides constant humor and sibling bickering.

3. Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard by Rick Riordan

• Mythology: Norse
• Lexile Measure: 600L – 690L
• Reading Level / AR: Level 4.8 – 5.1 (Grades 5–8)
• Age Range: 10 – 14 years
• First Book: The Sword of Summer

Magnus Chase—who happens to be Annabeth Chase’s cousin—dies in the first few chapters and wakes up in Hotel Valhalla. Teaming up with a talking sword, a deaf elf, a fashion-conscious dwarf, and a Muslim Valkyrie, Magnus battles to prevent Ragnarok. Its irreverent humor matches Percy’s voice better than any other Riordan series.

4. Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi

• Mythology: Hindu / Vedic
• Lexile Measure: 690L
• Reading Level / AR: Level 4.7 (Grades 4–7)
• Age Range: 8 – 12 years
• Series: Pandava Quintet

Published under the official Rick Riordan Presents imprint, this series follows 12-year-old Aru Shah, a chronic truth-stretcher whose museum dare inadvertently frees the Sleeper, an ancient demon. Discovering she is the reincarnation of a legendary Pandava warrior, Aru teams up with other demigod sisters on an epic quest through the Kingdom of Death.

5. Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia

• Mythology: West African & African-American Folklore
• Lexile Measure: 680L
• Reading Level / AR: Level 4.8 (Grades 4–8)
• Age Range: 9 – 13 years
• Series: Tristan Strong Trilogy

Grieving the loss of his best friend, middle-school boxer Tristan Strong accidentally tears a portal into Alke, a magical world populated by African folk heroes (John Henry, Brer Rabbit, Anansi the Weaver). To seal the tear, Tristan must learn the power of storytelling. The series balances profound emotional depth with laugh-out-loud action.

6. The Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes

• Mythology: Maya & Aztec
• Lexile Measure: 710L
• Reading Level / AR: Level 4.9 (Grades 4–8)
• Age Range: 9 – 13 years
• Series: Shadow Bruja / Storm Runner Universe

Zane Obispo has a physical disability that requires a cane, loves his loyal dog, and lives near an ancient dormant volcano in New Mexico. When a mysterious girl reveals the volcano is a prison for Ah-Puch, the Maya god of death and disaster, Zane discovers a secret divine lineage and embarks on a high-octane quest.

Secret Worlds & Magic Academy Adventures

For kids who were captivated by Camp Half-Blood—the secret training cabins, magical borders, and specialized combat training—these books deliver the same boarding-school and agency excitement.

7. Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston

• Theme: Supernatural Law Enforcement / Magic Agency
• Lexile Measure: 740L
• Reading Level / AR: Level 5.0 (Grades 4–8)
• Age Range: 9 – 13 years

Amari Peters believes her missing brother Quinton is still alive. Her search leads her to a tryout at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, where yetis, fairies, and alien species are secretly managed. When her supernatural aptitude test reveals she possesses illegal, feared magic, Amari must navigate prejudice while proving her worth.

8. Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

• Theme: Hidden Elven Realm / Telepathic Powers
• Lexile Measure: 780L – 830L
• Reading Level / AR: Level 5.4 – 6.0 (Grades 4–9)
• Age Range: 9 – 14 years

Sophie Foster is a telepathic girl who never felt like she belonged in the human world. When she discovers she is actually an elf created with rare abilities, she is whisked away to the magical Lost Cities and enrolled in Foxfire Academy. With an expansive nine-book overarching mystery, it is an irresistible page-turner for fantasy lovers.

9. Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by A.F. Steadman

• Theme: Ferocious Winged Unicorns / Elemental Bonds
• Lexile Measure: 730L
• Reading Level / AR: Level 5.2 (Grades 4–8)
• Age Range: 9 – 13 years

Forget gentle fairytale unicorns—these are ferocious, winged, bloodthirsty beasts that can only be bonded through dangerous elemental magic. Skandar Smith dreams of passing the Hatchery exam, but when a shadowy figure steals the island’s most powerful unicorn, Skandar discovers he commands illegal fifth-element spirit magic.

Classic Action Quests & Underworld Explorations

10. Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

• Author: Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games)
• Theme: Subterranean Giant Beasts / Family Survival
• Lexile Measure: 630L
• Reading Level / AR: Level 4.8 (Grades 4–7)
• Age Range: 9 – 12 years
• Series: The Underland Chronicles

Before writing The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins created this masterpiece. Eleven-year-old Gregor falls through a laundry-room grate in his NYC apartment and lands in the Underland—a subterranean kingdom where humans ride giant bats and war against intelligent six-foot cockroaches and rats. The quest structure and prophecies will instantly captivate Percy Jackson fans.

11. Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

• Theme: Secret Magical Creature Sanctuary
• Lexile Measure: 700L – 790L
• Reading Level / AR: Level 4.8 – 5.5 (Grades 4–8)
• Age Range: 9 – 13 years

Kendra and Seth Sorenson are sent to stay with their grandparents, only to discover their grandfather is the caretaker of Fablehaven, a secret sanctuary for magical creatures (fairies, witches, giants, and demons). When dark forces attempt to breach the borders, the siblings must use their wits to defend the sanctuary.

12. The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott

• Theme: Historical Alchemists & Global Pantheons
• Lexile Measure: 810L – 890L
• Reading Level / AR: Level 5.8 – 6.4 (Grades 6–9)
• Age Range: 11 – 15 years
• First Book: The Alchemyst

Nicholas Flamel discovered the elixir of life, living for centuries in modern San Francisco. When twin teenagers Sophie and Josh Newman are caught in a magical attack on Flamel’s bookshop, they are revealed to be the legendary silver and gold twins of prophecy. Mythological figures from Egyptian, Celtic, Norse, and Greek pantheons all clash across real-world landmarks.

Reading Level and Age Comparison Table

Here is a side-by-side comparison of every featured title to help parents and teachers match their reader’s current developmental stage:

For students needing assessments mapped to developmental reading programs, check out our DRA reading levels guide. If your young reader is ready to transition into darker young adult fantasy, consider our reading guide for Shadow and Bone (ages 12–16) and Six of Crows (ages 14+).

Tips for Parents: How to Help Your Reader Transition

1. Start with the Author Imprint: The Rick Riordan Presents books (Aru Shah, Tristan Strong, The Storm Runner) were hand-selected by Rick Riordan himself specifically for his fanbase. They share identical comedic pacing and modern mythological premises.

2. Don’t Fear Thicker Books: Series like Keeper of the Lost Cities might look intimidating due to their 600-page length, but their dialogue-driven pacing makes them swift reads.

3. Listen via Audiobooks: Riordan’s books and read-alikes excel on audio. Full-cast performances and dynamic voice acting can engage reluctant readers who enjoyed the humor of the Disney+ or film adaptations.

For trusted parent reviews and content advisories, explore Common Sense Media and the official Read Riordan Portal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should an 11-year-old read after Percy Jackson?

The most seamless recommendations are The Heroes of Olympus (the direct five-book sequel series) and Aru Shah and the End of Time (Hindu mythology with identical humorous quest vibes). For secret agency magic, Amari and the Night Brothers is a massive crowd-pleaser.

Are Rick Riordan Presents books in the same universe as Percy Jackson?

No. The Rick Riordan Presents imprint highlights diverse authors writing stories inspired by their own cultural mythologies. While they share the fun tone and fast-paced adventure of Percy Jackson, they are set in their own separate, rich universes.

What is the reading level of the Percy Jackson series?

The Percy Jackson & the Olympians series has a Lexile measure ranging from 680L to 740L and an Accelerated Reader (AR) level of 4.1 to 4.7, making it ideal for 4th through 7th graders (ages 9–12).

Which book like Percy Jackson has Norse mythology?

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard by Rick Riordan is the definitive Norse mythology companion series, featuring Thor, Loki, Odin, and the halls of Valhalla in modern Boston.

Summary & Next Steps

Losing yourself in Percy Jackson is a rite of passage for young readers—but it doesn’t have to end with Camp Half-Blood. From the ancient pyramids of The Kane Chronicles to the celestial weapons of Aru Shah, these 15 titles keep the spirit of adventure, friendship, and mythological wonder alive.

Explore more curated reading lists, grade level metrics, and book recommendations across Advance Book Readers.