Chronological order
| Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Lightning Thief | 2005 | Rick Riordan | Buy |
| The Sea of Monsters | 2006 | Rick Riordan | Buy |
| The Titan’s Curse | 2007 | Rick Riordan | Buy |
| The Battle of the Labyrinth | 2008 | Rick Riordan | Buy |
| The Last Olympian | 2009 | Rick Riordan | Buy |
Percy Jackson learns he’s the son of Poseidon, Greek god of the sea, and gets sent to Camp Half-Blood where demigods train to survive. Rick Riordan created the character for his son Haley, who struggled with ADHD and dyslexia. In the books, those conditions are signs of godly heritage: ADHD is battle reflexes, dyslexia is a brain wired for ancient Greek.
The series reworks Greek mythology for modern readers. The Olympian gods live on the 600th floor of the Empire State Building. Monsters lurk in ordinary places. Percy and his friends embark on quests that echo classical myths while facing distinctly contemporary problems. Riordan makes Greek mythology accessible without dumbing it down.
The five books follow Percy from age 12 to 16, culminating in a war against the Titans. Each book sends Percy on a new quest with escalating stakes. The humor and action keep younger readers engaged while the mythological references reward those who recognize the source material.
Two film adaptations in 2010 and 2013 disappointed both fans and Riordan himself. He was vocal about his problems with the movies, particularly their aging up of the characters. Disney+ produced a television series in 2023 with Riordan as writer and executive producer, giving him the control he’d lacked before.
Riordan has expanded beyond Greek mythology. The Heroes of Olympus continues Percy’s world with Roman gods. The Kane Chronicles cover Egyptian mythology. Magnus Chase explores Norse gods.