Rick Riordan Books in Order: The Complete Riordanverse Reading Guide (2026)

Rick Riordan has created one of the most expansive, beloved literary universes of the 21st century. What began in 2005 with a bedtime story about a dyslexic boy with a magic ballpoint pen in The Lightning Thief has blossomed into the Riordanverse—a sprawling mythological tapestry encompassing Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Norse pantheons.

With over thirty novels, companion guides, crossover short stories, and standalone spin-offs, diving into Rick Riordan’s catalog can feel daunting for new readers and parents. Characters age in real time across series, prophecies overlap, and subtle cameos in one series reveal massive plot twists in another.

To help you navigate this modern epic, this guide provides the definitive Rick Riordan books in order, breaking down both the recommended chronological narrative order and publication release order.

Quick Answer: What Is the Best Way to Read Rick Riordan’s Books?

When approaching the Riordanverse, readers face two primary options: Release Order vs. Chronological Storyline Order.

Fortunately, because Rick Riordan wrote the series in parallel with his characters’ aging, the publication release order almost perfectly mirrors the internal narrative chronology. Reading out of order—such as jumping into The Trials of Apollo before The Heroes of Olympus—will immediately spoil major character deaths, romantic pairings, and the outcomes of epic wars.

Here is the high-level roadmap of the Riordanverse sequence:

1. Percy Jackson & the Olympians (PJO) — Greek Demigods (Ages 12–16)

2. The Kane Chronicles (TKC) — Egyptian Magicians (Runs concurrently with PJO aftermath)

3. The Heroes of Olympus (HoO) — Greek & Roman Demigods (Direct PJO sequel)

4. Demigods & Magicians — Greek/Egyptian Crossover Novellas

5. Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard (MCGA) — Norse Gods & Valhalla (Runs concurrently with Apollo)

6. The Trials of Apollo (ToA) — Fallen God Megafinale (Direct HoO sequel)

7. The Senior Year Trilogy & Sequel Standalones — The Chalice of the Gods, Wrath of the Triple Goddess, and The Sun and the Star

To see how the reading complexity of these books compares to standard school grades, explore our comprehensive reading level comparison chart and our guide on Lexile level by grade.

The Core Camp Half-Blood Chronicles: Percy Jackson to Apollo

The backbone of the Riordanverse centers on Camp Half-Blood in Long Island, New York, and follows the ongoing saga of Greek and Roman demigods.

Phase 1: Percy Jackson & the Olympians (Original Series)

This is where every reader should begin. Percy Jackson discovers he is the son of Poseidon, arrives at Camp Half-Blood, and must embark on summer quests across the United States to prevent Kronos and the Titans from destroying Mount Olympus.

1. ***The Lightning Thief* (2005)** — Percy retrieves Zeus’s stolen lightning bolt.

2. ***The Sea of Monsters* (2006)** — Quest into the Bermuda Triangle for the Golden Fleece.

3. ***The Titan’s Curse* (2007)** — Introduction of Nico di Angelo and Artemis’s Hunters.

4. ***The Battle of the Labyrinth* (2008)** — Subterranean maze war under Manhattan.

5. ***The Last Olympian* (2009)** — The climatic Battle of Manhattan against Kronos.

Optional Companion: ***The Demigod Files* (2009)** contains three essential short stories set between books 4 and 5, introducing Festus the bronze dragon.

Phase 2: The Heroes of Olympus

Set just months after The Last Olympian, this five-book series introduces Camp Jupiter, the secret Roman demigod legion in California. Seven demigods unite aboard the flying warship Argo II to fulfill the Prophecy of Seven and stop Gaea, the Earth Mother, from awakening.

1. ***The Lost Hero* (2010)** — Introduces Jason Grace, Piper McLean, and Leo Valdez.

2. ***The Son of Neptune* (2011)** — Percy awakens with amnesia at Camp Jupiter alongside Hazel and Frank.

3. ***The Mark of Athena* (2012)** — Greek and Roman demigods unite and sail toward Rome.

4. ***The House of Hades* (2013)** — Percy and Annabeth traverse the perils of Tartarus.

5. ***The Blood of Olympus* (2014)** — The final confrontation in Athens.

Optional Companion: ***The Demigod Diaries* (2012)** includes four short stories, including Luke Castellan’s origins.

Phase 3: The Trials of Apollo

Following the defeat of Gaea, Zeus punishes the god Apollo by turning him into a clumsy, mortal 16-year-old human named Lester Papadopoulos. To regain his godhood, Apollo must free five ancient Oracles from an alliance of immortal Roman emperors.

1. ***The Hidden Oracle* (2016)**

2. ***The Dark Prophecy* (2017)**

3. ***The Burning Maze* (2018)**

4. ***The Tyrant’s Tomb* (2019)**

5. ***The Tower of Nero* (2020)**

Phase 4: Modern Sequels & Spin-Offs

Riordan has continued to enrich the Greek/Roman universe with standalone adventures focused on beloved characters:

• ***The Sun and the Star: A Nico di Angelo Adventure* (2023)** — Co-written with Mark Oshiro, this novel follows Nico di Angelo and his boyfriend Will Solace descending into Tartarus to rescue the Titan Bob.
• ***The Chalice of the Gods* (2023)** — Set during Percy’s senior year of high school, Percy, Annabeth, and Grover quest to earn college recommendation letters from the gods.
• ***Wrath of the Triple Goddess* (2024)** — Percy’s second senior-year quest, pet-sitting Hecate’s hellhound and polecat for a second college recommendation.

If your reader has exhausted Percy’s adventures and craves similar mythological quests, browse our curated list of books like Percy Jackson.

Expanding the Pantheons: Egyptian & Norse Companion Series

One of Rick Riordan’s greatest achievements was weaving other world mythologies into the same contemporary Earth.

The Kane Chronicles (Egyptian Mythology)

Carter and Sadie Kane are descendants of ancient Egyptian magicians. When their father unleashes the god Set at the British Museum, the siblings become hosts to Horus and Isis and must battle the serpent of chaos, Apophis.

1. ***The Red Pyramid* (2010)**

2. ***The Throne of Fire* (2011)**

3. ***The Serpent’s Shadow* (2012)**

Optional Companion: ***The Kane Chronicles Survival Guide* (2012)**.

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard (Norse Mythology)

Magnus Chase, a homeless Boston teen and cousin to Annabeth Chase, dies protecting innocents and is escorted to Hotel Valhalla. As an einherji warrior, Magnus must prevent Loki and Fenris Wolf from triggering Ragnarok.

1. ***The Sword of Summer* (2015)**

2. ***The Hammer of Thor* (2016)**

3. ***The Ship of the Dead* (2017)**

Optional Companion: ***9 From the Nine Worlds* (2018)**.

The Demigods & Magicians Crossover Trilogy

This short-story collection bridges the Greek and Egyptian universes when Percy and Annabeth team up with Carter and Sadie Kane:

• The Son of Sobek (2013) — Percy Jackson meets Carter Kane.
• The Staff of Serapis (2014) — Annabeth Chase meets Sadie Kane.
• The Crown of Ptolemy (2015) — All four unite against an ancient hybrid god.

Collected in a single volume: ***Demigods & Magicians* (2016)**.

Master Chronological Reading Order Checklist

If you want the complete, authentic in-universe timeline where events unfold seamlessly, follow this 30-book master reading checklist:

For younger middle-grade readers entering fifth grade, see our leveled list of the best books for 5th graders.

Standalones and Non-Riordanverse Works

Rick Riordan has also written fantastic works outside of the main Greek/Norse/Egyptian continuum:

• ***Daughter of the Deep* (2021)** — A modern tribute to Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Ana Dakkar, a freshman at Harding-Pencroft Academy, discovers she is the last surviving heir of Captain Nemo.
• ***Tres Navarre Series* (1997–2008)** — Riordan’s original adult mystery thriller series featuring an unlicensed private investigator in Texas. Not suitable for middle schoolers.
• ***The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones* (2008)** — Riordan authored the launch novel of the collaborative historical scavenger-hunt franchise.

Rick Riordan Presents Imprint Explained

Parents frequently ask whether books labeled with the “Rick Riordan Presents” logo belong to the Percy Jackson universe.

They do not. The Rick Riordan Presents imprint is a publishing initiative spearheaded by Rick Riordan to spotlight underrepresented authors writing mythology-based middle-grade fantasy from their own cultural backgrounds. Popular series include:

• Pandava Quintet by Roshani Chokshi (Hindu mythology, starting with Aru Shah and the End of Time)
• Tristan Strong by Kwame Mbalia (West African & African-American folklore)
• Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes (Maya and Aztec mythology)
• Sal and Gabi by Carlos Hernandez (Cuban culture & multiverse sci-fi)

These books share the signature Riordanverse blend of high-energy humor and modern mythology, making them perfect companion reads for devoted fans.

To cross-check how these and other series fit within classroom assessment frameworks, consult our Fountas & Pinnell reading levels guide and our complete DRA reading levels guide. For readers graduating toward darker YA fantasy, explore our Shadow and Bone reading level guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I read The Heroes of Olympus without reading Percy Jackson?

No. The Heroes of Olympus directly continues the storyline established in Percy Jackson & the Olympians. Major plot arcs, prophecies, and character motivations depend heavily on the events of the original five books.

Do I need to read The Kane Chronicles before Heroes of Olympus?

No. The Kane Chronicles features a distinct Egyptian pantheon and can be read independently. However, reading it before Demigods & Magicians is required to understand the crossover events.

In what order should a 10-year-old read Rick Riordan books?

A 10-year-old should start with Percy Jackson & the Olympians (Books 1–5). If they love it, continue directly into The Heroes of Olympus (Books 1–5).

Where does The Sun and the Star fit into the reading order?

The Sun and the Star should be read after completing The Tower of Nero (The Trials of Apollo Book 5), as it deals directly with the emotional aftermath of the Apollo series and features Nico di Angelo.

Summary & Getting Started

With over thirty books of heroic quests, witty chapter titles, and unforgettable mythic heroes, Rick Riordan has crafted an accessible, endlessly engaging reading experience.

Start at page one of The Lightning Thief, follow the release chronology, and watch your young reader journey from Camp Half-Blood across the entire ancient world.

Explore more reading guides, series chronologies, and leveled book lists at Advance Book Readers.