all of the percy jackson books in order

Why Reading in Order Matters

Riordan built a connected world where each story builds upon the last. Characters grow, consequences stack up, and themes evolve. If you skip around, you’ll miss callbacks, major reveals, and how certain characters develop over time. Think of it like skipping episodes in a serialized TV show—you could do it, but you’re cutting corners on story payoffs.

Here’s the Breakdown of all of the Percy Jackson books in order

Let’s get specific. Riordan’s mythological universe spans several series. We’ll start with the original and expand outward.

1. Percy Jackson & the Olympians (2005–2009)

This is the original series and where everything kicks off.

1. The Lightning Thief
2. The Sea of Monsters
3. The Titan’s Curse
4. The Battle of the Labyrinth
5. The Last Olympian

These books follow Percy’s discovery of his demigod identity and his central role in stopping a godsvsTitans war. They’ve got monsters, quests, betrayals, and a hefty dose of sarcasm.

2. The Heroes of Olympus (2010–2014)

The story continues, but Percy isn’t the only main character now. This series widens its scope to include Roman mythology and introduces new demigods.

1. The Lost Hero
2. The Son of Neptune
3. The Mark of Athena
4. The House of Hades
5. The Blood of Olympus

This arc pairs new and old characters in worldspanning quests against rising primordial forces. The narrative swaps viewpoints between books, keeping the storytelling dynamic.

3. The Trials of Apollo (2016–2020)

This one takes a unique spin: the god Apollo, cast down into a mortal teenager’s body, must fix the chaos he caused.

1. The Hidden Oracle
2. The Dark Prophecy
3. The Burning Maze
4. The Tyrant’s Tomb
5. The Tower of Nero

Percy shows up here too, but the spotlight belongs to Apollo (aka Lester Papadopoulos) as he stumbles through combat and humility.

4. Standalone TieIn Books (Optional but Fun)

These aren’t essential to the core arcs but add depth and entertainment.

The Demigod Files The Demigod Diaries Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes

They’re packed with short stories, interviews, and retellings in that trademark Percy tone. Read them after the main series if you want more flavor without major plot reveals.

5. The Chalice of the Gods (2023–Ongoing)

This newer installment is set after the original series but before Trials of Apollo. It brings back that classic Percy vibe and fills in gaps during senior year.

1. The Chalice of the Gods
2. Wrath of the Triple Goddess (upcoming)

It’s a throwback formula—Percy, Annabeth, Grover, one quest. Call it a bonus round for fans who missed the trio’s original chemistry.

Where to Start (and What Comes Next)

If you’re new, start with The Lightning Thief. You’ll meet Percy as he does: confused, sarcastic, and about to fight a Fury. From there, follow the order above. Even if later books look shinier or have buzzier reviews, reading all of the Percy Jackson books in order is how the payoff hits hardest.

Already finished the main series? Try Riordan’s “Rick Riordan Presents” imprint—written by other authors but curated by him, they blend global myths and fresh voices in standalone stories and trilogies.

Final Thoughts

If you want to understand why Percy Jackson became such a staple in modern fantasy, you’ve got to go through all of the Percy Jackson books in order—not shuffled, not cherrypicked. The arc is tighter than most people realize, and Riordan’s ability to evolve tone with his characters makes each series richer than the last.

Start with the lightning. Stick with it. You’ll be glad you did.