There’s so much that young readers love about Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series–the wise kid protagonists with dope powers, modern life dotted with ancient myths, herculean quests and insurmountable odds. Kids burn through this series faster than Riordan can write a new one.
Mixing ancient Greek myths with modern sensibilities that ignited a passion for Greek mythology and magic in many readers.
The Percy Jackson series is addictive, and it has sold over 69 million copies worldwide. It extends beyond the bookshelf too. There are now movies, musicals, video games, graphic novels and more based on the books and their lovable protagonists.
Unfortunately, however, a day will come when you run out of Percy Jackson content, but don’t despair. I have picked a few books/series featuring a new slew of characters that are sure to fill the void and enchant even the most dedicated Percy Jackson fans.
Without further ado, here are a few other books we highly recommend.
Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
This one is a no-brainer, don’t you think? It’s probably the only series that’s as big, if not bigger, than the Percy Jackson series.
The first book in the Harry Potter series was published in 1997, and the entire series tells the story of a young orphan who learns that he’s actually a wizard who’s destined to defeat a dark lord obsessed with immortality.
If you’re looking for another series featuring a black-haired, green-eyes boy who goes to a magic school to learn more about his powers, make new friends and defeat an evil overlord, Harry Potter is the best option you have.
Just like Percy Jackson, the Harry Potter series is more than just a bunch of kid’s fantasy books. It’s a whole experience and delving into this crazy magical world is like falling down a rabbit hole into a whole new universe.
There are seven books in the Harry Potter series. They are:
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (1997)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007)
The Harry Potter franchise is currently one of the biggest fictional franchises in the world, and the series has propelled its author, J.K. Rowling, to billionaire status. There’s a perfectly good reason for its massive worldwide popularity. If you haven’t read Harry Potter yet, it’s about time you do so.
Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard by Rick Riordan
Published in 2015, this is another Rick Riordan series that is just as enthralling as his magnificent Percy Jackson series.
These books tell the story of a 16-year-old boy who, after struggling to survive on the streets, is told that he has a freaking epic destiny waiting for him within Norse mythology.
Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard is basically the Norse version of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. It has a similar format, which includes a child hero who gets drawn into a world of prophecy and magic, and it follows that path with familiar elements of friendship, humor, adventure and questions of good versus evil.
There are four books in this series. They are:
- The Sword of Summer (2015)
- The Hammer of Thor (2016)
- The Ship of the Dead (2017)
- 9 from the Nine Worlds (2018)
What’s more? This series has a personal link to Percy Jackson: The main character is Annabeth’s cousin! Did that convince you to check it out yet?
If Rick Riordan scratches your fantasy itch, continue the magic with Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard.
Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
Book One in the Nsibidi Scripts series, Akata Witch tells the story of a 12-year-old Nigerian girl named Sunny who was born in New York but lives in Aba, Nigeria.
Sunny has albinism and her sensitivity to the sun makes life hard for her. When she befriends Chichi and Orlu, Sunny is exposed to the world of the Leopard People, a magical group of people who can make your worst defect your greatest power. It was there that she realized that her albinism is connected to unexplored magical abilities.
Soon, Sunny and her friends go on a mission in Sunny’s juju-powered bus (the funky train) to hunt down Black Hat Otokoto, a man who has been taking and maiming children. Sunny is a lot like Percy Jackson who realized that his learning disabilities are actually symbols of his Greek heritage.
Instead of European elements, however, Akata Witch explores Africa and its cultures. The heroine discovers a myriad of myths, folklore, cosmology, magic and other cultural elements of traditional African tribes.
There are three books in the Nsibidi Scripts series. They are:
- Akata Witch (2011)
- Akata Warrior (2017)
- Akata Woman (2022)
If you’re tired of reading the same old western interpretations of sorcery and magic, and you want to explore other cultures, Akata Witch is the best place to start.
The Storm Runner by J. C. Cervantes
Cervantes’ The Storm Runner tells the story of a disabled young boy in middle school who does not have many friends. Instead of making new friends, he spends most of his time exploring the dormant volcano near his home.
One day, a mysterious girl meets him at the volcano and tells him that there’s an ancient Mayan god living inside it. She also tells him that he’s descended from Mayan gods too!
The Storm Runner follows the tested-and-trusted Percy Jackson formula of young children realizing that they have great destinies in unique cultural environments. And because the main character is a disabled Hispanic boy, he provides some needed representation and diversity in young adult novels.
There are three books in The Storm Runner series. They are:
- The Storm Runner (2018)
- The Fire Keeper (2019)
- The Shadow Crosser (2020)
If you’re looking for fun and diverse books that will fill the void left by your conclusion of the Percy Jackson series, try The Storm Runner out.
The Queen’s Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
With the first book published in 1996, The Queen’s Thief series follows a quick and clever young thief who is pulled from the king’s dungeons. This king rules over a magical realm and he wants a long-lost treasure so he recruits this thief to steal it for him. However, not everything is what it seems and the king gets a lot more than he bargained for with this thief.
Also known as The Thief, these books tell the story of a protagonist who tries to outmaneuver everyone around him. Filled with twists and turns that will keep you guessing till the last sentence, these books will steal your attention just like its hero steals treasure.
There are six books in The Queen’s Thief series. They are:
- The Thief (1996)
- The Queen of Attolia (2000)
- The King of Attolia (2006)
- A Conspiracy of Kings (2010)
- Thick as Thieves (2017)
- Return of the Thief (2020)
If you loved the moments when Percy Jackson pulled smart tricks on his enemies, you’ll love the hero of this series as well.
Wrapping it up
The Percy Jackson series is fun to read, magical, entertaining and addictive. Little wonder millions of people love it so much. However, there are ten books in the series, and it’s only a matter of time before you finish reading them all.
The books above are equally enchanting and addictive, and you’re going to love them as much as, if not more, than you love the Percy Jackson series.
If you haven’t finished reading the Percy Jackson series, here’s a list of all the books:
Percy Jackson and The Olympians
- The Lightning Thief
- The Sea of Monsters
- The Titan’s Curse
- The Battle of the Labyrinth
- The Last Olympian
