The Percy Jackson movies might have your child interested in the character and open to reading. The two movies adapt two books from a five-part series.
Whether you are curious about what happens to Jackson after the Sea of Monsters or you want your children to read more, knowing the Percy Jackson book order is important.
In this article, you will find Percy Jackson books in order of publication alongside the best picks in order of popularity. You will also find out more about the author and the series.
Table Of Contents show
Our best Percy Jackson Books at a glance:
- The Last Olympian
- The Battle Of The Labyrinth
- The Titan’s Curse
- The Lightning Thief
- The Sea Of Monsters
- Percy Jackson And The Singer Of Apollo
Rick Riordan: The Legend Behind The Percy Jackson Myth
Rick Riordan was born on June 5, 1964, in San Antonio, Texas. He went through high school and his bachelor’s program in Texas before moving to Boston with his wife. The 60s-70s school environment is noticeable in his description of the Half-Blood Camp and juvenile education institutions in the Percy Jackson books.
However, before he ever conceived the Percy Jackson character, he was writing fiction for adults in his Tres Navarre series. That series had Texan-Mexican influences, most likely drawn from his young adult life in Texas. Tres Navarre series entries got Edgar, Anthony, and Shamus awards.
When he had a son, Hayley, he created Percy Jackson to tell him bedtime stories. The character was created with ADHD and hyperactive tendencies to be relatable to Hayley. Little did Riordan know that the character, once published, would be relatable and admirable to millions of children around the world.
The first novel was largely a test case, and when it succeeded, Riordan was more than happy to transition from writing mysteries for adults in Tres Navarre to penning Americanized Greek Mythology for pre-teens.
Percy Jackson Books In Order
- The Lightning Thief (2005)
- The Sea of Monsters (2006)
- The Titan’s Curse (2007)
- The Battle of the Labyrinth (2008)
- The Last Olympian (2009)
Additional Books In The Percy Jackson Universe
- The Demigod Files (2009)
- Demigods and Monsters (2009)
- The Ultimate Guide (2010)
- The Demigod Diaries (2012)
- Percy Jackson and the Chalice of the Gods (2023)
- The Last Olympian
The Last Olympian is the most recommended Percy Jackson book, but it is also the final in its series. That is why it should not be your first read, especially if you intend on reading other Percy Jackson books.
The Best Percy Jackson Books
The Last Olympian
The Last Olympian brings the Percy Jackson saga to a satisfying conclusion, invoking an old prophecy and referencing past events so fresh readers can understand the book’s self-contained narrative better.
It has a beginning, middle, and end, which makes it an okay solo read, but it is highly recommended to read other Percy Jackson entries to make sense of things like why Mount Olympus is in New York and why the main characters are demigods.
The main villain, Kronos, is the most powerful character in this book compared to the rest, so the stakes are the highest. Will Percy Jackson and his companions pull off a final and decisive victory against Kronos and his cronies?
The book has elements of fantasy, good vs. evil, and teenage heroism, making it perfect for mid-teens. It is written in fairly accessible English and has also been adapted into a movie.
The Battle Of The Labyrinth
This is the fourth installment in the Percy Jackson series and is considered the second-best book featuring the titular character. Percy Jackson is running out of time because the battle between good and evil draws near with each breath.
The primary battle is between the Olympians and the evil Titan Kronos. Camp Half-blood (demigods born of human and immortal parents) is firmly allied with the gods, incurring the wrath of Kronos. This novel has the “no one is safe” vibe that makes thrillers suspenseful.
It can be, like most of the tail-end Percy Jackson novels, considered a mythological fantasy thriller. Camp Half-blood’s lack of adequate defenses is what makes this specific installment a page-turner. That’s because the protagonist, Percy Jackson, is himself a half-blood.
Despite this specific book being the second most popular in the series, it cannot be the second one you read. You have to follow the chronology of the book as covered in the list above to make sense of the overarching saga.
That said, this book is unlike The Lord of the Rings in that each book does tell a story with a firm beginning, middle, and end, whereas the LOTR books collectively tell a single story while being unafraid to break it into volumes.
The Titan’s Curse
Unlike the later books that get higher acclaim, The Titan’s Curse is a virgin adventure that has Percy Jackson and friends going on a quest similar to a school trip, albeit more dangerous, to rescue their demigod friend. This reads like a rescue operation peppered with twists and turns alongside serious shifts in alliances.
Titan’s Curse has a high standalone reading value. You need not know more than the fact that demigods are children of Olympians. Aside from that, the rest is references and recaps as the story proceeds.
The Titan’s Curse is not a debut Percy Jackson adventure, though. So you can read it as a standalone book if you want, but not if you want to read the whole series.
There are plenty of character introductions and a serious betrayal, all of which might ruin the previous build-up if you read this first and go back to earlier books.
The Lightning Thief
If you’re a fan of blending romance with suspense, you might want to check out Nora Roberts’ novels as you read The Lightning Thief, the most recommended Percy Jackson book. This origin story and mythological adventure is the Sorcerer’s Stone for Percy Jackson fans, with a thrilling confrontation with one of the strongest Greek gods.
Despite sounding mythological, the book has suspense and thriller elements, including the “framed protagonist” trope. More specifically, Percy Jackson is accused of having stolen the Thunderbolt of Zeus, which is the most powerful weapon in existence.
To clear his name and avoid an all-out war between two factions of Olympians, Jackson has to venture into the underworld.
Fortunately, he is not alone, and his friends, who also happen to be demigods (and one is a satyr), are there to help. They aim to steal back the thunderbolt (hence the title) and give it to Zeus. Will Hades know of their plans? How will he react? And most importantly, how will the heroes manage to get the last laugh?
The Sea Of Monsters
This is the second installment of the Percy Jackson series and features Jackson venturing out to sea. This time, he has to bring back the Golden Fleece to help protect Camp Half-blood. The outer boundary of the camp is protected by a tree that keeps the monsters out. As the tree gets sick and begins to die, the camp is left vulnerable.
The stakes are high, and the setup is classic. To further add to the tension, Jackson’s childhood friend is in trouble at a remote location. He has to prioritize and organize his quest so that he can save Grover and the entire camp without sacrificing one for the other.
This book’s standalone reading value is higher than that of the latter installments. However, it isn’t as popular because of the recency bias that favors spectacular finales and stake-raising volumes. Still, any discussion about the best Percy Jackson books is incomplete without a nod to The Sea of Monsters.
From the (recalled) origin story of the tree that protects the camp to the monsters introduced mid-adventure, everything in the Sea of Monsters narrative reads like an epic fantasy adventure movie.
The movie of the same name didn’t do well enough to fuel the planned (and subsequently axed) next installment, but because of the standalone value of the story, it still works.
You can read this or the first installment interchangeably without ruining much of your experience. But since the first book is more popular than Sea of Monsters, you should probably stick to the proper order.
Percy Jackson And The Singer Of Apollo
This is a short story written in 2019, reuniting Percy Jackson and Apollo for a hilarious yet nostalgic narrative. The short story is pretty good in isolation but has little to no value unless you are personally invested in the Percy Jackson mythology.
It has, therefore, the lowest standalone value. Moreover, it is not as lengthy or detailed as an average Jackson adventure, which is why it gets to be at the bottom of the list. Still, it makes the top recommendations because, for people who have read the Percy Jackson series, this short read can reunite them with a character they love.
Percy Jackson might soon be back on screen, and his popularity might revitalize the franchise, spawning more novels. Fresh entries like Percy Jackson & The Singer of Apollo and supplementary titles like The Demigod Diaries remind readers that there is hope for fresh Percy Jackson stories.
You should read this story if you’ve already read the entire Percy Jackson series or no other book in the franchise. In the former case, it serves as a nostalgic throwback read as well as a “where are they now?” adventure. In the latter case, it can get you interested enough to invest more time and energy into the Percy Jackson series and read longer novels.
Percy Jackson Faqs
Is There Going To Be A Percy Jackson Tv Series?
A Percy Jackson TV series has been announced without a release or recording date. It will be in development through 2023, with a trailer release expected for Disney+ towards the last quarter.
The only fact that is clear regarding the matter is that the series will be owned by Disney since it owns the rights to the novels and the characters that appear in them.
Is the Percy Jackson Series Over?
The Percy Jackson book series is over, though short stories and supplementary books are released now and then to keep the franchise fresh and its trademarks in use.
The world of Percy Jackson is currently being used for further storytelling, but the canonical core reaches a satisfactory conclusion with The Last Olympian, which is the overarching finale of a multi-book meta-arc.
How Many Percy Jackson Books Are There?
Five Percy Jackson books tell the main story of Percy Jackson’s adventures. Eight supplemental works are often viewed as parts of the Percy Jackson bibliography.
You can read five books and have a full understanding of what transpired in the Percy Jackson story. There is no need to read companion books and spin-offs.
Is Percy Jackson An Olympian?
Percy Jackson is half-Olympian. His father is categorized as an Olympian, but his mother is a human.
What Is An Olympian In Percy Jackson?
The term “Olympians” refers to Greek gods in Percy Jackson’s novels.
What Is The Difference Between A Demigod And A Half-Blood?
There is no difference between a demigod and a half-blood, as both refer to the offspring of gods and humans in the Percy Jackson universe.
How Many Percy Jackson Books Are Movies?
Two of the five Percy Jackson books have been turned into movies. The books are set to get a fresh streaming series adaptation, though. This time, the entire cannon might get covered.
Where Is Mount Olympus In Percy Jackson?
In Percy Jackson, the 600th floor of the Empire State Building houses the modern-day Mount Olympus.
What Age Group Is Percy Jackson For?
Percy Jackson books are ideal for kids over the age of nine. Teenagers might be too old for Percy Jackson books, but that isn’t true for all teenagers. 9 and 10-year-olds make up the majority of Percy Jackson readers.
Wrapping It Up
Percy Jackson is a mythological fantasy series for preteens. It is fairly accessible and has just five books that 9-year-olds take a year to finish. It also has spin-off books for kids who are interested in other stories based within the Percy Jackson universe.
While the last two Percy Jackson books have the highest approval rating, the first two books in the series have the best standalone value. So let your child try the first Percy Jackson book, The Lightning Thief. If he doesn’t like it, he will still have an entirely standalone story. And if he loves it, he will have four more to read.
